We are back in Wellington, after spending a short 5 days in Samoa to be at the wedding of Pati's only sister and sibling, Susana.
What a whirwind trip.
Day 1 - Learning how to breathe again in the hot and humid weather, and trying to get over the drowsiness and dehydration. Long catch up chinwag with the sisters. McPeanut's for dinner.
Day 2 - First venture into town, checking out the crazy potholes in the road and the confusing directions or lack thereof at the "road works". Wedding shopping tasks, airport pick up, wedding planning. Hen's night. And to finish off - late night snack of taro and the world's best oka.
Day 3 - More wedding shopping, catch up lunch with friends, wedding rehearsal and other general wedding prep tasks. Food pick of the day - taro and 'sea'.
Day 4 - Last minute crazy running around. Pinati's Saturday Soup Special (yumness!!). Then finally...wedding fun!
Day 5 - Rare down time just hanging with the newlyweds. Last catch up with the sisters at McDonald's (the only place open on Sunday!). Then big family feast, with oka, pua'a and faiai fee.
Then sadly it was time for goodbye again. Now I am in that awkward phase where I am longing to go back, but at the same time relieved to be in the comfort of my own house again...missing family, but thankful to spend quality time with my own little family.
Looking forward to going back again, whenever that may be. No matter where I roam, Samoa will always be home.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Got you on my mind
"Happy Anniversary baby
Got you on my mind..."
That song is stuck in my head. Why, you ask? Because it's our wedding anniversary! Funny that.
Five years since this moment (look at how excited we were!)
If I could, I would have flown you here for dinner...
Got you on my mind..."
That song is stuck in my head. Why, you ask? Because it's our wedding anniversary! Funny that.
Five years since this moment (look at how excited we were!)
If I could, I would have flown you here for dinner...
And I would have bought you this...
And this...
And this...
And maybe this as well...
But alas, all I have to offer you is a future of nagging when you don't close drawers and doors, bad passenger driving, thrilling data warehousing work stories, free VB and SQL tips and budgeting/bill paying services. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Maintenance underway
"Why me?"
That's usually the first reaction when something undesirable happens. I initially had "bad" instead of "undesirable", but in hindsight they were only bad because they were things that weren't according to your plans or expectations. This sounds vaguely familiar...it could possibly be an extension of the previous entry.
While cleaning up our Russell Road abode to move to Wellington, we...let's say "took some shortcuts" in the cleanup. At the time I had an uneasy feeling and I knew without a doubt that it wasn't the right thing to do. So our landlord was dishonest in his dealings with us and our the real estate agent was harsh. That somehow justified in my mind what some call "karma", coming back to bite them in the proverbial. But as it turned out, things didn't quite go to plan, and let's just say that we had to undo what we did, and it may have cost us an outstanding reference from the agents.
Then tonight, I get these letters... "Infringement Notice" is the policitally correct and official term for them. I feel hard done by. Surely the police have better things to do than send me speeding tickets, I mean come on, I was only 6k's over the speed limit. Didn't get they get a really terrible independent review of some sort recently? I don't know. But it must be their fault, not mine. Right...?
Why me? I'm a (generally) good and (mostly) law abiding person. After the initial shock, anger and frustration, the answer that always comes back to me is this: (and yes, answers do come back in bullet points)
"But I'm a good person!"
Yes, and I can be an even better person. And better still.
That's usually the first reaction when something undesirable happens. I initially had "bad" instead of "undesirable", but in hindsight they were only bad because they were things that weren't according to your plans or expectations. This sounds vaguely familiar...it could possibly be an extension of the previous entry.
While cleaning up our Russell Road abode to move to Wellington, we...let's say "took some shortcuts" in the cleanup. At the time I had an uneasy feeling and I knew without a doubt that it wasn't the right thing to do. So our landlord was dishonest in his dealings with us and our the real estate agent was harsh. That somehow justified in my mind what some call "karma", coming back to bite them in the proverbial. But as it turned out, things didn't quite go to plan, and let's just say that we had to undo what we did, and it may have cost us an outstanding reference from the agents.
Then tonight, I get these letters... "Infringement Notice" is the policitally correct and official term for them. I feel hard done by. Surely the police have better things to do than send me speeding tickets, I mean come on, I was only 6k's over the speed limit. Didn't get they get a really terrible independent review of some sort recently? I don't know. But it must be their fault, not mine. Right...?
Why me? I'm a (generally) good and (mostly) law abiding person. After the initial shock, anger and frustration, the answer that always comes back to me is this: (and yes, answers do come back in bullet points)
- There is no authority except that which God has established
- Most of the time, I know what is right, and follow it
- Sometimes, I know what is right, and do not follow it
- God provides a way to show/remind me what is right where I may have been in the dark
- God provides a way to discipline me for disobeying what I had known all along to be right
- An opportunity is presented to overcome a weakness or develop a strength and continue to grow in the same likeness as the Lord, to go from glory to glory
"But I'm a good person!"
Yes, and I can be an even better person. And better still.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Will
Over the past week or so, I have once again been reminded of this verse:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55
During the whole preparation to move to Wellington, my prayer has been "LORD, let your will be done".
Then I found myself looking for rental accommodation, and before I knew it the prayer had turned to "LORD, let your will be done and not mine [and I really hope your will is for us to get this house on So-and-so Street that we just put in an application for]". What a rude awakening when our application got denied, and now it's back to knee-time, repentance, and reaffirmation that His will be done, that His ways are higher.
And as a friend cheekily put it, it's now up to those new tenants to sort out the plumbing issues...
During the whole preparation to move to Wellington, my prayer has been "LORD, let your will be done".
Then I found myself looking for rental accommodation, and before I knew it the prayer had turned to "LORD, let your will be done and not mine [and I really hope your will is for us to get this house on So-and-so Street that we just put in an application for]". What a rude awakening when our application got denied, and now it's back to knee-time, repentance, and reaffirmation that His will be done, that His ways are higher.
And as a friend cheekily put it, it's now up to those new tenants to sort out the plumbing issues...
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Play that funky music
Anyone tried making playlists for a 3.5 hour road trip where everyone has different taste in music? It's no easy feat, that's for sure.
Which is why I'm awake at 11:42pm worrying about what to play in the car to suit the different times of the day, different energy levels, weather, etc etc. It doesn't seem like a big deal. Just get some sleep, and don't worry about it, surely you can do fine without music for only 3 hours, right? I usually find that if it's there, it's not a major "wow you have music!" type of thing, but when there is no music and you start fiddling with the radio trying to find music and not getting any reception because you're in the middle of nowhere, the "I KNEW I should have made those CDs" feeling hits.
I can't find any more Samoan songs, and the ones I've found are named Unknown [x] by Artist [abc def]. This will be interesting. Hopefully, more of the "aww, interesting!" type and not the "umm...yea...INteresting" type.
Late night OTL babbling FTL!
Which is why I'm awake at 11:42pm worrying about what to play in the car to suit the different times of the day, different energy levels, weather, etc etc. It doesn't seem like a big deal. Just get some sleep, and don't worry about it, surely you can do fine without music for only 3 hours, right? I usually find that if it's there, it's not a major "wow you have music!" type of thing, but when there is no music and you start fiddling with the radio trying to find music and not getting any reception because you're in the middle of nowhere, the "I KNEW I should have made those CDs" feeling hits.
I can't find any more Samoan songs, and the ones I've found are named Unknown [x] by Artist [abc def]. This will be interesting. Hopefully, more of the "aww, interesting!" type and not the "umm...yea...INteresting" type.
Late night OTL babbling FTL!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
A birthday, Jesus and Bubbles
Bubbles is my baby sister. By baby I mean 8 years old. We went to our church Christmas production tonight, and about halfway through the play/show, she tapped my arm and asked "So Jesus would have been born tomorrow, but a long, long time ago?". Adorable and shocking. My own sister didn't know the meaning of Christmas. My bad. So I told her - Yes. Then we continued to watch the show.
At the end, the pastor gave an opportunity or invitation for those who wanted to know Jesus - the Light in the Dark. I had just opened my eyes slightly to give Lyla a stern look for being rowdy, and I saw Bubbles raise her hand to accept the invitation.
Merry Christmas, Bubbles. You have chosen to accept a gift more amazing than any of the ones you will be unwrapping tomorrow. A gift of love, full of promises that are renewed every day. A gift that is endless and that you can in turn pass onto others, sharing and shining the Light.
At the end, the pastor gave an opportunity or invitation for those who wanted to know Jesus - the Light in the Dark. I had just opened my eyes slightly to give Lyla a stern look for being rowdy, and I saw Bubbles raise her hand to accept the invitation.
Merry Christmas, Bubbles. You have chosen to accept a gift more amazing than any of the ones you will be unwrapping tomorrow. A gift of love, full of promises that are renewed every day. A gift that is endless and that you can in turn pass onto others, sharing and shining the Light.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Hurt
This is what I'm googling right now - "bible on dissapointment"
Two things can disappointment - people and circumstances.
Of the two, what hurts me more is disappointment by people.
Even worse is when people I care about are disappointment by people, especially the people they love the most. What a feeling of helplessness. I can't take the dissapointment and hurt off you. I'm so sorry.
Back to reading my Bible and praying. I pray for you and for me.
Two things can disappointment - people and circumstances.
Of the two, what hurts me more is disappointment by people.
Even worse is when people I care about are disappointment by people, especially the people they love the most. What a feeling of helplessness. I can't take the dissapointment and hurt off you. I'm so sorry.
Back to reading my Bible and praying. I pray for you and for me.
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