Every year, our old neighborhood, aka base housing, puts on a wonderful easter egg hunt. And this one was almost a year ago.
it's not an easter post without a cute picture of my easter bunnies.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Monday, November 24, 2014
V day is for awesome kids.
As I've mentioned over the years, I think I love Valentine's day so much more now that I have kids. In all reality, I actually like it now.
another perk of visiting my mission country
About 13 years ago, I served a mission for our church. In New Zealand. I didn't get to go back to where I had spent countless hours sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching english and serving the community; by volunteering my time reading the news paper to the elderly, or helping them eat; or square dancing with a wonderful group of people with mental disabilities, or taking them horseback riding. I didn't get to go walk the streets I walked over and over again, to go from one house to the other, sometimes to share a great message, sometimes to find the door shut, or to be given a shamed excuse that right now is not the time. The same street I wore my shoes out on, had many flat tires, and on which, more often than I've wanted to, walked or rode my bike soaking wet after a long, unsuccessful day.
It was the hardest time of my life, yet one of the most rewarding. The best part of it, is that I got to share it with some wonderful people. Sadly, some I will never see again, one of them having left this mortal life too soon; but I've been lucky to attend one's wedding, and see a couple of the others a few times. each time I stop by in New Zealand.
As much as I would never do it again, I'm so thankful for my time as a missionary in the New Zealand, Wellington Mission.
As I mentioned earlier, being in New Zealand at the same time as many people from New Caledonia, it gave me the opportunity to visit many old acquaintances and friends, under the best of circumstances.
As a child, I was friends with a girl names Nathalie Aliki. She was one of my best friends. Her mom took me under her wing, as her adopted "white" daughter. I remember spending sunday afternoons after church in the their small apartment. I remember her kindness. Years went by, moves happened and Nathalie and I lost touch. We saw each other on occasion, during our teenage years. Then I left again, and never saw her again. And didn't get to see her mom again. And then one day, Eliot and I were sitting at church, in Suva Fiji, when I recognized one of the missionaries as being Nathalie's brother, and next to him, his parents! What a fun reunion. And again we were to lose contact.
Tragedy hit the family, Nathalie ended her life. Leaving behind her 2 children and grieving parents. And things all went downhill from there. I never thought I'd ever see Her mom again. Until this past January. To her, I was still her adopted white daughter. To me, she was the grieving mother of a friend I wish I had been there for. The sacrifices she had had to make to be there were proof of her strength and testimony in Christ. She has no doubt that her daughter is in a better place, that her troubled soul has been eased. And that if she does all she can do, things will work out. This was one of the sweetest reunions I've ever had. I truly felt in the presence of a grand soul. Blessed to have had this family in my life.
It was the hardest time of my life, yet one of the most rewarding. The best part of it, is that I got to share it with some wonderful people. Sadly, some I will never see again, one of them having left this mortal life too soon; but I've been lucky to attend one's wedding, and see a couple of the others a few times. each time I stop by in New Zealand.
As much as I would never do it again, I'm so thankful for my time as a missionary in the New Zealand, Wellington Mission.
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| Two of my favorite ladies in the world. So many memories with both of them. A lot of them including bikes, singing, Mcdonald's and crazy people. |
As I mentioned earlier, being in New Zealand at the same time as many people from New Caledonia, it gave me the opportunity to visit many old acquaintances and friends, under the best of circumstances.
As a child, I was friends with a girl names Nathalie Aliki. She was one of my best friends. Her mom took me under her wing, as her adopted "white" daughter. I remember spending sunday afternoons after church in the their small apartment. I remember her kindness. Years went by, moves happened and Nathalie and I lost touch. We saw each other on occasion, during our teenage years. Then I left again, and never saw her again. And didn't get to see her mom again. And then one day, Eliot and I were sitting at church, in Suva Fiji, when I recognized one of the missionaries as being Nathalie's brother, and next to him, his parents! What a fun reunion. And again we were to lose contact.
Tragedy hit the family, Nathalie ended her life. Leaving behind her 2 children and grieving parents. And things all went downhill from there. I never thought I'd ever see Her mom again. Until this past January. To her, I was still her adopted white daughter. To me, she was the grieving mother of a friend I wish I had been there for. The sacrifices she had had to make to be there were proof of her strength and testimony in Christ. She has no doubt that her daughter is in a better place, that her troubled soul has been eased. And that if she does all she can do, things will work out. This was one of the sweetest reunions I've ever had. I truly felt in the presence of a grand soul. Blessed to have had this family in my life.
Hobbiton- because it deserves it's own post.
So you know how The LOFR trilogy and the Hobbit were both filmed in NZ. Well, the reason they did that, is because the Hobbits actually live in NZ. So it made things very convenient. Ok, maybe not. But, Hobbiton does exist, including Bag End's. I saw it. true story.
When ready to prepare for filming the first trilogy, Jackson sent out scouts to find the perfect palce for the hobbit village. By helicopter they flew over the country, until they indeed, found the perfect place. About 40 mins away from Hamilton. In the middle of nowhere. So much in the middle of nowhere, that there was no access road. The land belong to farmers, who agreed to share it, for the movies purposes.
Once you get past the fact that tax dollars where used to construct a access road, as well as the kiwi army, You will be enchanted by what you find, in the middle of the North Island's rolling hills.
Initially, the village was to be temporary, and so it was for the filming of the LOTR. But when it was decided that the Hobbit would be made for the silver screen, Jackson made the decision to spend a few million dollars, and make the village a permanent fixture. Thank you Sir Jackson.
When ready to prepare for filming the first trilogy, Jackson sent out scouts to find the perfect palce for the hobbit village. By helicopter they flew over the country, until they indeed, found the perfect place. About 40 mins away from Hamilton. In the middle of nowhere. So much in the middle of nowhere, that there was no access road. The land belong to farmers, who agreed to share it, for the movies purposes.
Once you get past the fact that tax dollars where used to construct a access road, as well as the kiwi army, You will be enchanted by what you find, in the middle of the North Island's rolling hills.
Initially, the village was to be temporary, and so it was for the filming of the LOTR. But when it was decided that the Hobbit would be made for the silver screen, Jackson made the decision to spend a few million dollars, and make the village a permanent fixture. Thank you Sir Jackson.
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| little bunch of hobbits. |
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| Bag Ends |
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| the party tree |
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| doing a hobbit dance |
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| on our way to the green dragon |
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| almost there.... |
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| time for some ale...ginger ale. |
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| a handsome bunch of hobbits. |
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