Works in progress...

I'm feeling so tired tonight. This week just seems to be going to never end!! Last night we had all our painting team to our home in Coalgate and fed them all up to thank them for the great year of work! Some of them went jebboating on the Rakaia which they really really enjoyed. It was a lot of work though, don't know if I want to do that again, especially after a full on working week. Then today David did a 75 km cycle race and James (11) did a 10 km kids Mini-bays. They did great I am so proud of them!
Chrissy has been busy today dancing for her end of year production. Two shows today, and two tomorrow. Reuben is self-destructing again, he is just very tired I think. Hopefully we can get through this weekend without a major meltdown!!
I've been working with a personal coach for about 10 weeks now and am starting to make some headway I think. The trouble is that it is getting harder and harder! It was easy to make the big glaringly-obvious changes, but the real challenging ones are much much harder! Mike is great though (his business is called "Clarity"), I've never met him, he doesn't even live in the same island as me, but we talk on the phone. The thing about a coach is that they don't actually tell you what to do, but as you talk, it kind of becomes obvious to you. Right now I am trying to be real about how I feel about things which is I think one of my life-long failings. I like to think that I am Mrs Incredible and that nothing fazes me, but the reality is that of course I feel sad sometimes, ok a LOT of times!!! especially lately with all the Reuben stuff. Anyway I haven't worked out how to change yet, but the first step is to realise that you have to eh!
I'm going to make a quilt to show how I feel, I've got some grey fabrics and I want to do a mosaic pattern with golden grouting. I think that we can see the beauty in the difficult times of our lives and that is the golden grouting!! Anyway aren't we all just works in progress?? As my favourite saying this year is "Lucky we aren't perfect either"!

Some of the work from Thailand

Here is some of the work that was created from when I went to Thailand. Its great isn't it :)

Kaija's Quilt

Detail of the quilting on the back. Done by the lovely Verina at Cust.

Kaija has been a fantastic friend to my sister Jo this year (she's had a bit of a hard time) so before she went back to the UK I decided to make her a quilt. Here it is....

Busy time making Christmas presents!

This is a table runner I made for Aunty Jean. Its very "Aunty Jean" and I think she will like it. So one weekend, nine presents... its all good!

Also made this quilt. It's a man-quilt! My cutters and ruler had crapped out by that stage so it grew together, not cutting required!! I'm actually really pleased with it. I wanted some polar fleece for the back so I took a blanket out of James' bed (he's eleven) and cut half off it. Then I put the blanket back and waited to see if he would notice. So far he hasn't!!

Had a very productive weekend. This is a very cool bag I made. I'm really pleased with it. It actually looked nothing until I put the buttons on it!

I've been busy making Christmas presents this weekend. Here are five little sewing kits. cool aren't they. I found the receipe for them in a magazine.

On going having a fun day.....

On Tuesday the rest of our office went to the races. By all accounts, they had a fantastic fun time and I was so pleased for them. I went to school to help out with a camp day with the junior children. We had such a fun time, pitching tents, making banners and doing camp things. After school I popped into mum's to take a wee ipod case I had made for my dad. She was talking about how she wondered about reconciling ones Christian faith with the betting on the races. To be honest, I hadn't even thought about the betting, I was wondering about the drinking and general silliness. I'm just not into that kind of thing to be honest, I quite like to sit quietly and people watch, but I'm not very good and the 'lets go out and have fun' senario. I'm a bit of a party pooper actually (as my family knows). I did have a really great day at school though, I loved putting up the tent (and I loved being good at it), I loved being with Reuben and watching him watch the other children. I loved being able to mummy a little girl called 'Jemesa' who was the only child in school uniform on a mufti day and was crying all day. I loved the fact that she wanted to put her name on our banner and told me that the 'Purple Panthers' (our team) was the best team. I especially liked the way she leaned against me at lunch time! I had a fantastic day. I've been thinking that different people find different things fun and I think that we should be tolerant of each other's choices. To paraphrase a saying... "One man's fun is another man's torture!!!"

My sunflower bag....

Hello there. This is a cheapy conference bag which I have padded and quilted the front of with this fantastic bright sunflower material. I just love the fabric which comes in a whole range. I got it from the lovely ladies in Kaikoura (Hi Viv and Rachel) link to them on http://apatchofcountrykaikoura.com/store/index.php?main_page=about_us. I'm going to use this bag for a present at Christmas. I wonder who the lucky receipiant will be!!!

New Quilt for my friend Liz.....

Here is the new quilt for Liz. I texted her this morning to say it was ready, did she want it and so she popped over. It was so cool though, because she said she had been having a good cry about stuff and then got my text and realised that God did love her after all! How awesome was that. I'm stoked.

Quilts I've been finishing....

This is the other quilt I finished yesterday. It is for my friend Shenleigh's 40th birthday. I started it about this time last year, and finally finished it. I'm really sick of it now to be honest, but I think in a few months I'll like it again. I still think the colours are beautiful.

Here a close up of the quilt for Lily Rose...

This is the quilt I finished yesterday for Lily Rose. I like the colours and the pattern, but I'm not too proud of the workmanship. I made it out of the left overs from another quilt. Actually I'll get two or maybe three quilts from that first quilt's leftovers.

Two homes....

Well I'm back now, back from my travels. I was so terrified about going, but when i got there, it was amazing. I just felt like a belonged there. It was the weirdest feeling. If you know me, you'll know that I am a homebody, possibly the most boring person on the planet. But when I was in Thailand, I felt like I belonged there. I felt like I grew another part of me, its kinda like when you have a baby. Before the first one, you think, will I love this thing?? Then you do. then you get pregnant with another and you think, will i love this thing? and the other one?? Then you do. Then you get pregnant with another and you think, well this time I know I've got it wrong, I have two (and I love them) but how can I possibly love another one??? But then you do. So now I feel like someone with two homes, here and there. Can't wait to get back somehow. Just love it.

Two More Sleeps....

In two more sleeps I'm off on an adventure. I'm a volunteer, not a conscript, and I'm am off. I always knew I would do this one day, I was born a volunteer! But for a long time I believed that volunteers where not needed any more. I was so sad, I had been born too late to be the volunteer i dreamed of doing. Then I discovered that there was still a need for volunteers. Hurray, but alas I was married with little kiddies and i could not get away....

Time moves on, we grow and develop... and now an opportunity has come for me to be that volunteer. On wednesday I leave and fly to Thailand where I am going to help people who make handcrafts for a living. I believe I can help them, I am an ideas person. It will be great.



The hard part is leaving my family behind. I love them so much, they love me too. How will they manage without me, will they be nice to each other?? Who knows! Two more sleeps and I'm off. Every thing I do for them is precious - tie my shoes mummy? of course! make my lunch mummy? of course! pick me up from school mummy? of course! It is so hard.



Two more sleeps and I'm off. But I love you all so much, I will be back and fast as I can!

on goal setting...

Have you noticed how people are so into goal setting these days. My goodness it is everywhere. Its quite sickening really. Most of the time it is like pulling yourself up by the bootlaces I think, quite futile. Not that I'm against progress, mind you, no not at all, but goal setting for goal settings sake is just nuts! I prefer to go on a journey. You come to a stream and need to get to the other side. Look around, there may be a few rocks to aid your way, you hop to the first and then the next. Bit by bit you get across the stream to the other side, then you hoist yourself up the bank, ah we are making progress! Up on the bank you look ahead, oh a paddock to cross and so off you go. That's goal setting to me, just moving quietly forward, past the cow pat, dodge the thistles, on and on, enjoying the journey.

Developing character

On monday I went to the gym as usual. For three quarters of an hour I was the only person in the women's part of the gym. It was great. There was only 6 people in the other part of the gym, everyone else had the morning off. One of the instructors told me that 10000 people belong to this gym and only 2000 people go. Isn't that amazing 8000 people paying good money to the gym but not going! I wonder if they think they will get fitter just by joining? Its a lot like being a Christian I think. Many many people call themselves christians, but only a few read their bibles every day and pray, but they think by just belonging to a church and going along occasionally that is enough. It is not enough, regular daily contact with God is what will build God's character into our lives, just like regular daily attendance at the gym will help us to get fit!

I'm going to Thailand

When I was growing up I loved reading. I devoured books. I especially loved reading stories about real people. The real people I was reading about were missionaries. I thought they were amazing, I wanted to be one....

Time passes, good things and bad... but I am going to Thailand. I'm actually not cut out to preach the good news, I'm more of a practical person, I'm going to visit with people who live in little huts, who eek out livings with the skills they have. Heroes people are, they feed themselves and their families by the labour of their hands. I'm so blessed, i'm going to visit them and see what they do, and then I'm going to (hopefully) help them to make more things so that they can make more money. Isn't that great. Acutally I am so so excited. Watch this space

Time is slowing down... the days are drifting past one by one twice and long as before. Yes its the last few weeks of the school holidays. Everyone has their new books, all covered and labelled, in fact everything is labelled within an inch of its life. Even Roo has a uniform and books all ready for the next big stage in his life. Actually all the children are at new stages, Chrissy is starting High School, James is starting intermediate and Roo is starting school. This means some mental adjustment for the mummy! In no time at all her preschool mothering days will be over (whew) and her new role will begin. How exciting for us all, a little bit scarey but an adventure none the less. Now if the adventure could just begin on monday.... !

Happy New Year

Hello everyone, its a new year! Hurray!! Have you noticed how great it is to make a fresh start. (Like me logging back onto blogspot and getting a new password so i can use it!!) I just love new year. I make lots of resolutions! I have been to the gym four times this week, this morning I had a blood test so now I can go to the doctor. I've tidied my house within an inch of its life, my friends won't recognize it.. what else have I done this year... hmm. Oh yes I discovered that if one of your resolutions for the last three years has been to learn to back a trailor, its really quite simple, you actually have to attach the trailor to the car and start doing it! Amazing. I can now back a trailor down the street, not alas up the drive or into the garage, but hey its only the 12th or something and the last two years I didn't even try!!

Have a great day everyone and make lots of resolutions, its a new year, you get another chance.

back again...

My sisters and I seem to have fizzled out on our blogs!! Have not written for ages and ages. We've had some ups and downs, but seem to be all feeling a bit happier this week. Reuben has no kindy today so we have had a spa in our newly set up again pool, weeded some garden, gone on a bear hunt around the garden and had a picnic in the play house, all this and its only 10.30!!

Not so great!

Had a not so great day yesterday. Found out Matthew very sick indeed now, not going to make it, being sent home next week. Not so great. Great actually for Matthew who gets to have a great party in heaven and speak with God, not so great for us who feel sad being left behind.

Went to see the surgeon, have to limp around for next three years (or so) until can't limp any more, then get new hip. Decided to become more acquainted with elbow crutch, so can limp for bit longer. Not so great also!

Went to the Champion Centre to set goals for next six months for Reuben. Actually the Champion centre is great and Mariana (OT) Maureen (Play therapist) Louise (Music therapist) Jenny (speech therapist) Jane (Psycologist) and Marie (Teacher aid) were all fantastic and we set great goals. Its just kinda sad to have to have all these people in one room talking about your child (who you love) and deciding what are goals that are appropriate and whether it is realistic for him to do this that and the other, when most other 3-4 year olds do all this stuff with out their parents realising it is a big deal.

Not so great!

At least we got them all done in one day. God is good.

Two down...

I finished the first two quilts to get posted to England. There was $70 of materials in each, but I didn't really have the heart to tell the lady how much I wanted for them, so charged her $100 each. I think that means I earned about $1 an hour, which is less than what they get in Taiwan. Go figure!

Tidiness

Yesterday I spent all the day (well all the spare parts between the three year old, the washing and the meals etc) tidying my office/sewing room. It was so messy. Literally can't walk in the door. I sorted all the stuff from Showbiz, all the games from keeping the Showbiz kids entertained, put away all the craft stuff from card making the other night. Put all the quilting gear away... did all the filing and sorted all the papers.

It is truly amazing. My mind feels less cluttered now. I feel like i can think in here. I can certainly sit down on my two chairs for the first time in months. I know I will be able to finish off all the quilts (I think there are 10 or 12 to do before christmas). I feel inspired by the tidiness.

On Quality time...

Hello there world, how have you all been doing in my absense?? coping I hope. I feel so much better after 12 days away. It is amazing. We went to Hamner which was great. If you want a good bach to go to, I have the number, ring me!! It was just as a bach should be, great TV, ugly furniture, fire, awful carpet, dryer, you know all the essentials. Best of all a short walk or bike ride to the pools and an even shorter walk to my favourite part of the forest. It was great. Then off last sunday on a horrible, windy road to Kaikoura. Believe me, if you are going from Hamner to Kaikoura, when you get to Rotheram, don't go by the Leader Road. It leadeth you round and round and up and down. Blah. Any way we got there, eventually. Kaikoura was great. We did lots of biking, some coffeeing, lots of sewing, have come back with maybe 5 or 6 quilt tops to back!! Anyone want to buy a quilt?? Took loads of photos of the kids. Every year I do a photo album for mum and dad and nana robbie for Christmas. This means about NOW i start manically taking photos so it looks like we have been doing stuff during the year! Good plan actually. There is something about looking at your children through the camera lense to focus your mind on how beautiful they are. They don't look nearly so annoying somehow!!

Anyway the rest has done me good, I'm off crutches again, hurray and ready to tidy my office!! See you later.