Loving these summer days

Mission Bay fountain in the evening changes colour

Mission Bay park with our littlest loving the swings

Have been very busy enjoying these summer days and especially spending it with my children and going to local parks. Been going to Mission Bay park near the Auckland CBD (central business district) and they just love it there. The above pic shows the fountain changing colour in the evening and the pic below with our littlest enjoying the swings. There's so much to see and do for children, teens and adults.

It was also the setting for the first date that Fritz took me on at Mission Bay in 2000 Feb 14. I thought it would be either a day I would like to forget or one that I would remember for the rest of my life. It was the latter. At the time, I did think it was a little too romantic for the first date but it turned out just fine. There he said that he thought he could spend the rest of his life with me and almost 15 years later, we're a busy couple loving our children.

It's a busy little area with lots of tourists arriving daily and youth playing ball sports or for just picnicing and enjoying each other's company. There's also kayaking and water sports or going for a walk, playing sand castles or reading a book to the soulful sounds of the gentle waves breaking on the sand. Just love it!

Summer days at the pools

I love these Auckland summer days with beautiful weather - great for hanging washing (environmentally friendly), going to the beach or swimming at the local pools with my children. I remember with my last two children, my middle child was born in January and my youngest was born in March and I spent much of the last trimester at the pools to cool down.

Water plays an important part in our lives, not only as our most favoured drink but my children also started swimming lessons within their first birthday and continue to enjoy leisure time swimming at the pools or at the beach.

As a young adult, my favourite water sports was outrigging with 5 other paddlers on an outrigger and still enjoy kayaking which I started out on at various camps that I attended. I've also tried Dragonboat paddling but still enjoy outrigging as you can paddle on both sides.

So that when we visited the resorts in Fiji or at my parents home in Samoa taking a small craft out to paddle is enjoyable and not so daunting. Fritz and I, as well as my parents, also enjoy seafood - but that's another story.

Enjoying this incredible weather while it lasts as daylight savings gives us an extra hour although we do have to get up an hour extra. Oh well... zzzzz

Weekend learning about leaving a legacy...

Just found out over the weekend that one of my teacher colleagues died before Christmas with many tributes on a Facebook page made up for her. It made me reflect this new year that we really don't know when I time is up and that we should live in such a way that there are no regrets.

I also went to a church service (pic of the entrance above at our Life church) with my children and enjoyed watching a review of "Saving Mr Banks" a movie that explores the relationship between the writer of 'Mary Poppins' and her background growing up and also with Walt Disney, the founder of Disneyland etc. (a movie review following).

I was interested to learn that she had written the book series in her 30s but then did not sign over the rights of the book to be made into a movie for 20 years of Walt Disney trying to persuade until she was 64 years old when she finally relented and met with his team to work through it. I found out that she later died at age 96 years in the 1990s, a multi millionairess but unloved. So sad.

What would you like to leave as your legacy? My children are so important to me so that for me it's about leaving a legacy that my children can be proud of and to learn from or add to. I think it's always important to say that you love your loved ones rather than to leave them guessing.

Summit mountain climbing last day of holidays

I enjoyed my last day with my children before starting work again for the new year next week. We decided to walk up our local mountain with a summit of approximately 100+ metres above sea level. Nothing like the Mt Everest that I read about in Bear Grylls' book but still offered the experience of climbing a mountain.

You might be able to spot my eldest who is more adventurous, like her dad, and wanted to climb directly up the mountain path, that you may be able to trace, to the summit. With my other two  children, we decided to go around the longer way and a lot easier for my youngest (3 year old) to negotiate. (I have a poem that I wrote about a childhood experience that I had that I'll post later on in the poetry section.)

After about a 30 minute+ walk, we made it to the trig station on the summit and enjoyed the panoramic view of Auckland as well as viewing the local scenes. My eldest had been waiting there for some time and we were able to share about our experiences of having taken them to play local club soccer and softball (baseball) a couple of years ago as well as ballet classes when they were younger.

I've majored in Geography since high school and shared some of the stories that I remembered growing up locally and how things have changed since then. Like how there used to be oxidation ponds (sewage treatment centre) that used to smell there and how the local council is hoping to develop that area into a recreational area for sport.

After the climb we returned to our car taking different paths, my elder two down the steeper slope and I took my young one on my back and walked back down the way we came as she was tired from the sun and the long walk. It was a good thing that we had brought along cool drinks and then we decided to pack our gear and go to the local swimming pools to cool down after 5pm when most people had left. What a day, with neat memories and rewarded with a fun time at the pools.

Floral artistry and relaxation

It's been a relaxing first week of the year with my children where we're able to sleep in instead of waking up before 7am each morning to get ready for work and school. It's also been a time for them to go biking with their new Christmas bikes having needed to upgrade them for the next tryathlon later on in the year.

I've also had time to work on a couple of wedding buttonhole ideas with another light blues and whites wedding set that will be sent to Otorohanga (will post up pics later). And working on a couple of new paintings that I'll post up later. Funnily enough I still get up early usually around 6am and start my day sometimes after dropping Fritz to work and then having some 'quiet time' to read the Bible in the morning for my devotions and reading through Genesis.

This is my last week before going back to work and still have some organising to do with a garage tidy up, working out the budget and activities for our family for the week. Looking forward also to another beach trip this weekend with the neat weather. Hope you're having a neat first week for 2015 too.

First weekend of 2015

 Hope you're having a neat first weekend of 2015. My family decided to go to Long Bay this weekend but as I was driving I overshot the exit and ended up driving another 11+ kms to the next exit and decided to then visit Orewa instead

Loved it as we were able to park our car behind a grassy bank which was only a couple of metres and then below us was the sand and the beach. Our children loved the picnic on the grass over looking the beach, swimming and playing in the warm water as well as making sand castles.

But they especially liked playing the family softball game that we had. And then as evening wore on, we went for a family stroll up the beach and back with a final play at the park when it was dark. Just loved spending time with family and having fun in a relaxed atmosphere and we also got to pray on the beach which was neat.

It also helped me to recall how beaches have played a significant role in our lives as my first date with Fritz was at a beach near the city (which I thought was far too romantic and it happened to be on Valentines day as well) it was the same beach that our 2 children were baptized in last year.

Fritz proposed to me on a beach in South Auckland; we went near to a beach at Sonaisali Resort Island in Fiji to get married and then had our honeymoon at Broadbeach in Brisbane, Gold Coast. Both our parents live near beaches in Samoa, our best family holidays have been spent at beaches ie. Kirra Beach, Coolangatta in Brisbane; Denarau Island beach in Fiji; family beaches in Samoa at Fasitoo (my parents home) and Siumu (Fritz' family) as well as our annual beach trips to favourite Auckland beaches in the summer.

Maybe for the rest of the summer months you'll find us on some weekends playing at a beach and enjoying time together. It also goes towards ticking the box for having at least fortnightly some family fun activities together, as one of my monthly goals for the new year that I have planned over the years. Because as it's been said that as you grow older you'll be regretting time spent working rather than getting to know your child/ren well.  All the best for the first month of the new year....

Happy New Year for 2015

Happy New Year and welcome 2015. I feel that this year is going to be a special year, an amazing year which holds so much promise and have started planning and organising things although I do believe that we make our plans but God has the last word. Wishing you too the best for the year ahead.

The Gardenia flower is one of my mum's favourite flowers that I have in my garden. It is beautifully fragrant and has a lovely waxy white flower with contrasting green leaves. Often when I see lots of these growing in a garden, I wonder if there are Pacific Islanders living there. To me, it symbolizes the beautiful prospects that this year holds.
 
So for 2015, so far, have scheduled in regular date nights which started last night with my beau, and we went out (with our 3 year old in tow) to a local fave Chinese restaurant (gotta keep those romantic fires burning ha ha) and planning regular family outings like dinners out or taking walks at a park or beach etc. Anniversary and Birthday plans for sure! and other important activities.

Remember, it's been said that 'if you fail to plan, you plan to fail' and that it's more likely for you achieve your goals if you write them down and regularly review with a plan of attack. Will also be sharing more plans and activities as the month unfolds and looking forward to God's hand and blessings for the year ahead - bring it on 2015 with lots of prayer in the background.

Goodbye 2014 - Hello 2015 / Last book review 2014

Last Book Review for 2014:

Thought to have a book review as my last blog entry for 2014. I'd already read the second book of the "Hunger Games" trilogy in September called "Catching Fire" that my eldest had received as a gift and watched both movies with her after a lot of pressure from school classmates for having not watched it. My initial hesitancy was over the notion of 'kids killing kids' and what that teaches our children.

So decided to watch it with her to discuss some of the concepts of the movie. And indeed it had a classic 'love story' plot (with two possible beaus), a quest to stay alive in the 'Hunger Games', a hero/heroine with certain talents, underdogs in a society who begin to question the norms and values of those ruling over the underclass with themes of power/oppression and a certain 'uprising' rebellion brewing.

It reminded me of the many times and places now and in history where such ideas have killed thousands - millions of people over time. It was a well crafted book, thoughtfully written about a ruling class society who saw the killing of children as an acceptable sport. She included in her Q and A section that her father, a military specialist, had influenced her ideas as he had explained to her the background of Vietnam.

My parting entry for 2014, is to encourage us as caring adults to be watchful over our children and to be advocates for their hearts and minds. I've observed how our society has developed and is more complicated technologically but our universal values have pretty much stayed the same which is way such movies ring true for many. The first part of the third movie is already out showing at movie theatres.

Wishing you and your family a very Happy and prosperous New Year for 2015... Happy New Year!

Praying/Planning ahead for 2015

I'm really looking forward to what 2015 holds and above is one of those templates (from FB) that might help me/you towards meeting one of the goals. Pretty much at the end of every year I set aside time to review my present year and the year ahead with goals for myself and for my family members taking into account their needs and our coordinated efforts.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting goals charts (in the "Templates" page of my blog) that I've been using over the years for my own individual goals and will also include a family goals sheet as well. This is particularly important because it's been said that if you don't write down your goals and review regularly then you're less likely to achieve them.

I've also used, over the years, a personal planner, an A4 appointments diary with a full week over 2 pages that helps me to plan out my days/weeks ahead and includes all the different places that I need to be with my family and their needs as well. This has proven to be my best time organisation tool as a smart phone can sometimes have a dead battery or can be easily lost.

If you haven't already, maybe this is a good time to pray ahead and set some goals for yourself and for your family and after reading an inspirational book i.e. my latest book review by Bear Grylls - the sky's the limit!

Last days of 2014 - Book Review

Book Review of: Beary Grylls' "A Survival Guide for Life: How to achieve your goals, thrive in adversity and grow in character."

(c) 2014  Bantam Press, Great Britain.

It's neat being able to squeeze in time to catch up on some very inspirational reading. This particular book is a condensed version of wisdom and experience over many years. I read his best selling book "Mud, sweat and tears" a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how (although it was quite substantial) - it was easy reading and fascinating to know the background as to how he got his TV series started and he even climbed the Himalayas!

I would definitely recommend both books to read and particular to inspire men. I like how he is very candid about his experiences and not at all macho as some people might think. This particular book is a paperback with some 280+ pages full of quotes, old wisdom sayings and relates to his knowledge of surviving. He's also shares Christian principles that I also value and he made me reflect on things in my life too. Very easy reading.

I'd also encourage women and teenager/young adults to read through this book as it helped me to reflect on my goals and encourages us to think outside the square and to see our obstacles etc as a means to getting to the destination. I also like how he shares universal values about giving and being humble as opposed to showing off - traits that I was encouraged about by my parents.

I see this book as one that I will be referring to again and again. It was given to my eldest child for her prize giving and I think well picked as to have this information as one grows up is better than hindsight.

Last weekend of 2014 - Carrot cake recipe

This last weekend of 2014 has been 'kick back' day/s (as my children love to say) with no plans, no pressure and just taking it easy. I've been catching up on a bit of reading with another book review pending and enjoying my time with them. Also have my lil' sister (with her 19th birthday next month) over for the holidays and it's nice to see them sharing ideas on music, art and everything else in between.

My mum's a great cook and really miss her cooking (she was also my inspiration in crafting) as she's enjoying leisurely retirement days by the beach with my dad in Samoa. I must admit that as a family, we were really spoiled with her cooking as she poured a lot of love and great technique into her each dish. My year older sister is similar and I picked up a few tips but I like to only stop by at the kitchen for short lengths of time. Hence...

Last night, I made a carrot cake and it's turned out beautifully moist and thought to share the recipe with you (from the Edmonds cookbook) which I've perfected for my own taste over the years.The measurements are approximate as you can add to taste. I call it the 'one bowl cake' because I put it all into the one bowl and then transfer it into a large cake tin to bake.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 - 1.5 cups sugar

0.5 - 1 cup oil (I use vege or canola)

2.5 - 3 cups flour

2 teaspoons Baking soda

handful of sultanas

1 medium tin pineapple pieces (add in juice)

handful of cherries (without pips)

chopped walnuts (a few to taste)

1 - 1.5 cups grated carrots (I clean them but unpeeled)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until all folded in and mixed well but don't over stir. Pour into a greased large cake tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Prick test (with a fork) to see if cooked. Then cool and serve.

I do sometimes add a cream cheese frosting which is simply made as:

1 - 1.5 cups icing/powdered sugar

1 small container of cream cheese 

couple of drops of lemon juice or lemon essence

Mix well in a bowl and when cake is cooled, spread onto of the cake to decorate and then serve with tea/coffee.

Makes a nice 'fruit cake' for these 'kick back' summer days.

Enjoy..

P.S. Please leave feedback if you tried the recipe out.

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day - on Love

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas season and a Happy Boxing day from Auckland, New Zealand. This season to me is all about love - with Christmas celebrating the birth of Christ and God sharing His love with us in gifting His son Jesus and we in turn gifting each other and then Boxing day was an English tradition of giving boxes with after Christmas day treats to servants/employees to take home to families.

It's one of my favourite times of the year in spending precious time with my children without the pressures of being a working mum or the activities of schools and clubs. It's just nice to spend quality time with them and started jogging with my eldest to prepare for her next month's soccer trials; watching my middle child enjoying her creativity in creating crafts and my youngest in just being fun and able to be around mum.

It is also a neat time to catch up on some reading which I rarely have time to but this Christmas I received a book gift from my eldest called "Another mother's love" by Karen Scott (c) 2014. My children love to read from the numerous library visits I've encouraged since they were quite young and I love to read too but with my busy work week schedule it is more of a rare treat.

Initially, I wasn't interested to read it as I'd just started reading the "Hunger Games" series but because she looked so disappointed at my disinterest, I thought I needed to give it a go. However, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was such a moving non fictional story about the experiences of one loving 'blended' family's attempt to support a young troubled boy as their 'foster child'. I finished reading it's 300+ pages on and off throughout the day.

Karen Scott had me laughing in the book and crying at the end as I could relate to being a mum (to only 3 children) as opposed to her 7 but I also related as a step sister in growing up with 4 younger adopted siblings as the youngest biological child of my parents. It was compassionately written with a lot of love and very frank about their ups and downs. It made me aware of how grateful I was of my upbringing and parents and the stability I had that I try to give to my children.

I would definitely recommend this book to read for mum's and dad's wanting to foster a child but more importantly to any who have a heart for hurting children. I definitely thought that as a mum she certainly had more patience than I would have put up with but when it comes to love and kids - that's a hard one as I love having children. It's definitely a special blessing that I have been most privileged to consider this Christmas season.

Christmas Eve and the day/s before Christmas

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas when children begin to anticipate the opening of presents, the mad rush of shoppers to fill their last minute shopping lists and Christmas Eve caroling. Going to the beach is another neat time of anticipation for the children in my family as a family legacy that my father often did during the holidays when I was younger.

The pics above show a local park that we visited and frequent on not so busy days and only a few minutes drive from our house. I love this lagoon like setting where I used to go outrigger training (when I was single and before the kids came). I love the peaceful atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of suburbia and other distractions.

How different it must have been at another scene where a tiny baby was born, so peaceful and serene. Christmas really isn't about the number of presents that we receive (or didn't), the food we eat, or the people we visit (or don't visit) to me it's about taking time out to reflect on how a special God transformed our world so that we could understand how much He loved us to come to live with us... and a baby was born!