My new favorite word. . .

is retreat! 

Our church had a womens retreat last weekend and I was actually there. Typically I don't sign up for such events - especially when the instructions say things like "bring your own bedding". I usually consider that an ominous sign. I also at times struggle with what I perceive to be forced intimacy. And, as mothers everywhere can attest, there is so much work involved with sorting everything out before you leave and then catching up again when you return, that generally I just can't be bothered.

However, this time one of the ladies from our church was on me like white on rice. She asked me every time I saw her if I would go. She finally wore me down. I said yes so she would leave me alone. On Friday, the day of departure, the reality of that decision hit me and I so regretted having agreed to go, but I think even then I knew deep down that God must have something for me to be so relentlessly pursuing me via this lovely, persistent lady. So I bit the bullet and went out to the curb to wait for my ride. 

It was truly a fascinating weekend! I rode in with a lady who has lived here many years but is originally from South Africa. We picked up another Kiwi girl on the way about my age (and yes, I called us girls, I still feel young).  Just the ride was an adventure. I am learning so much about my cultural Christianity versus simply being a follower of Christ. I want to be His follower, not wrapped up in what my culture considers the marks of a good Christian. I loved meeting women from all over - we had me there from the States, my driver from South Africa, another African from Zimbabwe, many Kiwis and a few English. I love the diversity of the body of Christ. I love that they TOLD us to bring a bottle of wine. That didn't happen too often in Texas :).

The setting was beautiful. We were about an hour outside of Wellington and yet we felt like we were in an entirely different world - we were near a lake in this beautiful pastoral setting surrounded by sheep, hills, cattle, streams. The weather was amazing, beautiful sunshine and warm breezes. I reveled in the opportunity to have quiet times without distraction - walking, sleeping, praying, eating without having to get up and get anything for anyone, etc. I also enjoyed, despite my hesitations, the times we had together and I feel like I've made new friends and I will certainly recognize more faces at church each Sunday. 

I rejoice that God gave me the weekend to just rest in Him and to be loved by Him through these ladies. I also think God used the weekend to bless the girls with time with Daddy. Dugald is amazing, he not only has been working relentlessly at the office, but he sacrificed a weekend to single-parent the girls so I could have the time off. I am so grateful for the gift he is to me, and the way he serves and loves us is such a blessing and a model of what it looks like to serve others.

Thank you honey!!!!

Exercising my right. . .

to vote! It's the first time I've voted this way though . . . 

Well it's a good thing I'm off to pilates after this post! We've discovered lots of good eatin' here in Wellington, and today was no exception. 

Today, in celebration of Josie's decision, we headed out for gelato. Our tradition in Texas, and by tradition I mean what we did to celebrate Meggie and Katie deciding to be Christians, was to go out for a big ole breakfast at IHOP and then head over to one of the many Christian bookstores and buy them a new bible.  We didn't veer too far off the path of celebrating with food -  we simply substituted an afternoon gelato (double scoop for the special girl) for a huge morning pancake covered in whipped cream and chocolate chips - and we went to the ONE available, and not so very big, Christian book store and paid $60 for a kids bible. Oh yes, we're in the big city now!!!

All that said, Josie was elated and I hope she will remember the joy of this day. It was fun to hear the big girls reminiscing about their special celebrations with Josie.

Here she is with her lovely new purple "Adventure Bible". 

She wrote the inscription herself, so cute.
This gelato store was featured in my fave NZ magazine, "New Zealand Home and Gardens". We've actually been there a few times before. . . it's a bit of an addiction. They not only have amazing gelato, they also have a "pot of chocolate" drink and delicious coffees. 







** Full Disclosure: The gelato pictures are actually from our trip there last weekend, which would explain for the observant among you, why Dugald is in casual clothes and not his suit. 

And the Angels Rejoiced

It has been an emotional day! This morning Dugald, Meggie, Katie and I attended a funeral for a mom of three young girls. She was one of seven siblings and they were all there. Her parents were there. Her husband spoke eloquently about her - when he was done I felt I knew her well though I'd only ever met her a handful of times. Her daughters made her proud, they were brave, beautiful and gracious. God was present and glorified in her Requiem Mass. I hope and pray the family felt His love and presence with them. I know they had to feel the love of the many friends who came to share in their grief and to celebrate a life well-lived.

From the grief and sadness of the morning to unspeakable joy tonight - Josie has been asking us lots of questions about faith, about what it means to be a Christian, about life. She's young, but she knows that she wasn't born a Christian and she wants to be one. Tonight was her night - she and her daddy talked for a good long while after their regular evening bible time. He was satisfied with her understanding of who Jesus is, what He did for her, and why she needed Him to do it. He led her in prayer as she asked Jesus to forgive her sins and gave her life over to Him. I know the angels in heaven are rejoicing, and our family is too!!!

Funerals are such a strong reminder that we only get one chance, this life is it, and they cause me to ask myself how I want to live it. This morning many people spoke of Denys' joy and sense of humor. They spoke of her commitment to her children. Her bravery in the face of a terrible disease. Her love of shopping. The thing that really struck me though was when the priest leading the service, the same one who married Denys and Andrew many years ago, said that despite all that they as a family had been through, and all that they will go through, they still knew God is good. I too came away from the morning with a greater understanding of God's goodness to us.  

I am reminded of that as I celebrate with Josie tonight. I am so grateful to know that she knows the Comforter that is always present. I am excited for her as she begins her life of faith and I look forward to watching all that God does in her. I am so grateful to know that no matter where life takes her, she will have the Lord to fill her with hope, joy, comfort, peace and love. That's my prayer tonight for those sweet three girls who said farewell to their Mommy this morning, that they too would know the hope of seeing her again in heaven.

Te Papa

It's been a busy few days despite it being the holidays, or perhaps because of it, sorry for the lack of posts! Today is an awful day - rain and very strong winds - and we are off to the funeral but I wanted to post these pictures from our weekend trip to Te Papa.  There is a new exhibition there called "Our Space" complete with simulated rides, so the girls were very excited.

Another part of the new exhibition is a map of New Zealand lit up on the floor, so we "walked" from Wellington to Palmerston North and the girls got to see the path to Grandma and Grandpa's.

The girls have also noticed Maori marais around town, traditional Maori meeting places. They've wanted to go inside but I haven't let them because I don't know the proper protocol for such things. So, it was with great excitement we discovered a marai exhibit at the museum they could explore! I didn't take pictures inside because it was quite dark, but here is Meg with her head out of one of the windows.

There was another, even fancier one, in another room and it looked like this:

In one of the discovery rooms the girls could dress up in traditional Maori clothes so Katie and Josie got right to it and even did some dancing with the pois (those things in Katie's hands).

Meanwhile Ellie tried her hand at a few puzzles.
I have more pictures to post from the weekend but they will have to wait until later as we need to be off now. Stay tuned. . . 

Hi all -

Meggie updated her blog so be sure and check her out. . .

Dugald's boss, Andrew, lost his wife today. . . she lost her five-year battle with cancer and leaves behind three young girls, Alice, Molly and Vita. Please keep this precious family in your prayers.

Thanks to all who keep in touch, we love you!

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

Literally almost just around the corner from our house is an amazing wildlife sanctuary and we, until Monday, had never been there. Since it's school holidays the sanctuary is running all sorts of special programs so we finally went with some friends to learn about frogs, and other New Zealand wildlife.

It was a brisk, overcast, somewhat windy day - but the sanctuary is pretty protected from the wind so it wasn't too uncomfortable. This girl was teaching about animals. . . 

And Katie knew the answer she was looking for. . . frogs in New Zealand squeek instead of croak. Go figure! Between Katie and Meggie is our sweet friend Pippa, her brother Monty was also there along with our friends Julia and Izzy, and their friend Lucy. 
After the presentation, and some passing out of "Freddo Frog" Cadbury chocolates, we headed down to the lake for a picnic lunch. While there we saw this adorable sight:
Here is the lake, it's amazing this beautiful "wilderness" is nestled right in the middle of Wellington. The sanctuary has gone to great efforts to protect endangered New Zealand species, such as the kiwi, and therefore there is a cat-proof, predator-proof fence running all the way around it. We were getting cold, and Ellie was needing a nap, by the end of our lunch, but we bought a family pass so we can go back in the next few warmer months and really explore!