This Weekend

This weekend I took a approximate 4 hour trip from Napier (B) to New Plymouth (A) and back again

As usual I dropped B4 with his father on Friday morning. B14 and I did school work on Friday morning as per usual. In the afternoon we got ourselves organised for the weekend, Both packing a bag. I also cleaned the inside of the car.

On Saturday morning I did the paper run as per usual. Then I dropped B14 with some people from church. They are all doing the Relay for Life. Its B14s 2nd year :) He reckons hes gonna do the night walks, He is such a night owl.

Alone :) :) :) Child free :) :) :) I set off :)

While I was having a home made picnic lunch I was intrigued as to what the 'mushroom' was. So as I was eating my apple I took a walk up the street :) I ended up asking at a petrol station a little further down the road.

I arrived in New Plymouth an hour earlier than I had first told the lady I was staying with :) After having a coffee with her. I headed off to the CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS CONCERT.

It was fab :) The concert began with Cliff's special support guest our very own John Rowles. About the only thing I have to fault the concert with is that the organizers didnt put John Rowles up on the screen like they did Cliff. It was very hard to see John performing.

All too soon the concert was finished. I could have listened all night long too Cliff and The Shadows. That would be rather greedy though. This is the 3rd time I have ever seen Cliff (I saw him twice when I was living in Auckland. He is still has good as ever.

I hope I have his energy when I am 69 :) They were all so GOOD!!!!

After the concert I finally found my car. At first I had been walking down the hill instead of down once Id sorted that out and let me say I wasnt the only one. Getting out the venue proved troublesome to quite a few people. I headed back to my friends and settled down for the night - I put up "curtains" and slept in my car :) I wanted too :)

After a restful nights sleep and I had had breakfast I attended New Plymouth Bible Chapel. I felt blessed as there was a baptism. Everyone was friendly and I was in awe of their Sunday School room - so big - compared with ours :)

Then I started on my way home. I stopped at a interesting little town for my lunch and then a little walk to look at their clocktower

I had a good trip home the weather was marvelous this weekend

Ive put these 2 sites as they were of interest to me

some people reckon wind farms arent good and spoil the look of the country side I dont agree :)

I LOVE driving however the Manawatu Gorge while not being very long was scary - I dont like heights nor falling

As I was getting towards home I decided I should do go away (once a month) by myself again - its good for me to get away and have a break :)

Flowers In My Wild Garden

What We Do On A Wednesday Evening

B14 has drama on a Wednesday evening between 6 and 7 so D4 go and play

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE EVER STOOD UP ON A SWING!!

Turn The Tap On

While on Facebook recently I saw an ad

I responded to it and for FREE I got these books and video

I also helped/supported this endeavour by posting these on their website

We watched the video as part of our home schooling this morning. Im going to give one of the book packs to the mission lady at church. Im going to start filling a drink bottle with loose coins. Will you??? Do you care???

Simple Womans Day Book

FOR TODAY... 22nd February

Outside my window. . . its a beautiful fine day

I am listening to... the cicadas

I am thinking... why my house has to get so messy in the weekends

I am thankful for... my boss - shes put me in new area with my part time job and its all flat!!! No more up hills for me for a while. She thinks I will be able to earn more sales :)

I am wearing... work tshirt and pantss


I am going... to clean my house and home school B14 this morning and pick up my catalogs this afternoon -

I am currently reading... The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson - Im a slow reader but Im enjoying it

I am hoping... to get everything I need to do today done

Around the house... get the housework done

One of my favorite things . . . is a tidy house

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . . this week as well as the usual Im also going to be doing some training. Soon I will be mentoring a girl once a week for an hour for the year. I wanted to give something back to an organisation that helped me heaps last year.

From my picture journal..

these are the first self portraits I ever taken believe it or not

I did what my sister does to her daughter and plaited my hair last night before going to bed

thus causing it to become wavy in the morning

I do believe its getting thicker as it gets longer

Does hair do that???

Art Deco 2010

We did get down into town yesterday afternoon :)

I LOVED the fashion that was happening down there\

Outside Our Window Last Night

I heard a plane, flying over head, at first just one, then joined by 3 others.

I got up and looked out my office/school window and saw these . . .

this photo is taken from this mornings paper. They werent quite as close to us

still good to watch though

This weekend is art deco weekend here in the Bay. We may go into town later - if so there will be more photos :)

Funny How God Changes Things - My Vision

I never grew up in a Christian family so when I say I was a young Christian. I mean when I was about 24ish.

This morning I was reminded of when I was a young Christian (after reading a new friends blog) and was a bit afraid God would send me away from my family into the mission field. I was afraid then.

Skip forward to when I was studying to get my bachelor in early childhood education (when I was about 36ish). I was sitting in the car one day on a nice looking street having some me and God time. It was there that God planted a seed in my mind. I had been listening to a Christian radio station where they were interviewing a lady whom was a missionary.

I could picture what the lady was saying so clearly. Below is only very disturbingly similar to what she was saying. It didnt and doesnt matter what country these children are from.

When the first cameras entered the Romanian orphanages in 1990 the world was stunned by what was revealed. Children tied to cribs and chairs, often cold, underfed and smeared with their own feces. The pictures of starving, unloved children had a huge impact.

Not all the children in the orphanages were actual orphans. Many had been abandoned by desperately poor families who had been forced to have more children than necessary as past of Ceausescu's insane population building policy.

Psychological damage and developmental delay

Imagine what is could be like to be brought up in an institution in Romania in the worst circumstances. You could be cold and bored, with meagre and unvarying meals, bleak mealtime experiences fighting for food or your bottle propped up in a cot.

You had nobody to call your own, to look forward to seeing, to love and hold you. The strict regimentation left no time for personal attention or affection and there was very little color or variety.

This could be made worse by disability, illness or abuse.

You may have often had sores and infestations.

Psychological damage suffered in this type of institution is deep-rooted and more difficult to address than physical effects. Many orphans are far from recovering psychologically. This lack of human contact, color, variety, stimulation, understanding and concern almost always leads to developmental delays.

(The information was taken from www.relieffundforromania.co.uk)

She inspired me and I was prompted to decide that one day Id like to work with the orphans. I felt at the time God was saying in China and although the above transcript is taken from a Romanian orphanage as I said it doesnt matter where these children are. They are still numerous and need love.

There at times when I now get impatient. Wanting to give and go now!! God however, is reminding me it will be in His time. That He has me right where He wants me to be right now. That Im not just idly waiting for my youngest to grow - that He has made me part of a great team (even if I do say so myself) and allowed me to get involved with Sunday School teaching. That I have an important job installing the Word and Himself into my sons lives. And of course learning more about Him.

1970s ADS

I found an interesting website last night.

Among the ones that triggered memories were:- Brylcreem - my father use to use this and contrary to what the ad says my mother hated it

The KFC one. I dont remember the song. I do remember how the people and animals bumped bumped bumped along. I would have been 5 years old when this ad was on

The Railway one and Breeze soap I remember the songs not the ad themselves

Leggs Pantihose - I remember this one and I use to like the containers came in too :) If memory serves me right I use to like to think they were huge eggs

Theres lot more over the decades - go have a look :)

Bed

D4 loves reading himself to sleep

and I LOVE dry nights - yep!!! He told me the other day he didnt need nappies at night anymore and hes had 2 dry nights in a row now :)

Didnt Know What To Write About Today

Then my sis sent me this

Welcome to the 2010 edition of getting to know your Friends.

The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known! Have fun!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
7.15am

2. Diamonds or pearls?
diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Sherlock Holmes


4. What is your favourite TV show?
Coronation Street and the News (dont watch much apart from them)

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
porridge

6. What is your middle name?
don’t have one:( My parents thought my full name was long enough - it actually contains 14 letters

7. What food do you dislike?

snails (escargot,) - I got tricked into eating once

8. What is your favourite CD at moment?
dont listen to many cds as such - I listen a lot to the radio and I like various singers/bands

9. What kind of car do you drive?
Nissan Pulsar

10. Favourite sandwich
salad and seafood

11. What characteristic do you despise?
Abusive types - absolutely sick of them

12. Favourite item of clothing?
my 3/4 pants that have embroidery on the side of them

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
to England to meet my lovely supportive caring cousin

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
capture

15. Where would you retire to?
I like living in the Hawkes Bay

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
too long ago to remember - just another day

17. Favourite sport to watch?
basketball

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
depends who reads it - England?

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
I dunno know

20. When is your birthday?
May

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
neither afternoon person

22. What is your shoe size?
10

23. Pets?
none although I help look after Spice (B14s cat)

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
not really just the usual

25. What did you WAnt to be when you were little?
teacher - kindy to be exact and I think of myself as a teacher - a home schooling one :)

One day I may teach in a preschool at the moment I still teaching B14 is most important

26. How are you today?
Ok

27. What are your favourite sweets?
milk lollipops

28. What is your favourite flower?
gerberas

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?

the 28th Im going to see Cliff Richard in New Plymouth on my own :)

30. What is your full name?
Jeanette Massey (but I much prefer Jen and NOT Jenny!!)

31. What are you listening to right now?
the boys whistling milk lollipops - which is why Im only ok - its beginning to get on my nerves

32. What was the last thing you ate?
lollypop for pudding

33. Do you wish on stars?
no

34. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
red - its my favourite colour and its a power colour too

35. How is the weather right now
humid and grey

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
Barbara - B14s Correspondence Learning Advisor at the New Zealand Correspondence School

40. What was your favourite toy as a child?
my doll - Margaret

41. Summer or winter?
Summer

42. Hugs or kisses?
hugs

43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate

44. Coffee or tea?
coffee

45. Do you want your friends to email you back?

Well Im not emailing this but I would be interested in others answers


46. When was the last time you cried?
if my memory serves me right I shed a tear or two at the end of Ronans concert

47. What is under your bed?

a drawer of art supplies, a cane basket, a box of bits and pieces

48. What did you do last night?
put D4 to bed with no nappy :) Hes officially nappy trained :) :) :) After reading him a story I surfed on the Internet for a while then went to bed to read

49. What are you afraid of?
snakes not that we have them in New Zealand but they still make my toes curl up

heights and falling off bridges

50. Salty or sweet?
both

51. How many keys on your key ring?
8

52. How many years at your current job?
Ive been a mum for 17 years wow!!! when did that happen and Ive been home schooling B14 for 2 and a quarter years. I also have a part time job with home care direct shopping which Ive been doing for just over a year

53. Favourite day of the week?
Sunday

54. How many cities have you lived in?
Auckland, Christchurch, Hawkes Bay

55. Do you make friends easily?
I think so. Im quiet when Im with new people but once I get to know people Im more confident

56. How many people will you send this to?
dunno

57. How many will respond?
dunno

Simple Womans Day Book

FOR TODAY... 15th February

Outside my window. . . its a grey day

I am listening to... the tv in one of B14s home schooling breaks and cars going along the road outside - its just been redone - cars on the gravel crunching

I am thinking... whether this week will seem to go as fast as last week did

I am thankful for...The New Zealand Correspondence School - making our home schooling much easier

I am wearing... my TradeMe tshirt, blue 3/4 pants and brown shoes

I am remembering... the weekend :)

I am going... to pick up my catalogs this afternoon - not very many this week - waiting to start on the latest catalogues

I am currently reading... The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson

I am hoping... Im able to get it into this time my 2nd restart on reading it

Around the house... Im getting into a good routine and most of the housework is done

One of my favorite things . . . is researching stuff on the internet

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . . picking up my boy from his dad this afternoon :), My job, just the usual

From my picture journal...

I found these photos on Facebook the other day

This lady to see Ronan in Auckland

By looking at her photos lots of lovely memories of seeing him in the Hawkes Bay were thought about. Does he have a wonderful smile - he seems to br really enjoying himself too :) :) :)

The Day Before Valentines Day

While most people are feeling the LOVE

Im in LOVE . . . with my clean house :)

This morning I got up early did my Saturday morning paper run. had a quick breakie, helped with the garage sale at church, had an afternoon nap (the people in the house below us had a party last night - so I was awake in the middle of the night - Ill forgive her - she hardly ever does it - and they had good music - ABBA)

I cleaned up my house :)

Im happy to be single - had too much heart ache in the first half of my life

the next half (figuring I live to be almost 80) is gonna be putting God first

A Busy Friday

10am dropped D4 with his dad

then came home and home schooled B14 for a couple of hours

after lunch went and did my job

I parked the car and delivered the catalogs down a VERY steep road.

Last time I did this road I vowed never to walk up it again so I didnt

however I did walk for miles before I eventually decided to walk up another road

and boy was I feeling it - apparently it was 35 degrees C!!!!

TOO HOT

after a bit of a rest took B14 to church where we spent the next couple of hours helping to get the hall ready for the garage sale - were raising funds for Relay for Life

An Hour to Myself This Afternoon :)

Walk to the shops and back with a coffee break in the middle

Allow myself a treat

Lovely time

Kindness to moi

&

Cappuccino topped with cinnamin coffee

Observe the area as I sip

Feelings rose from being grumpy to gladness

Freshness as the rain fell

Energized

Enough time to lift my mood

D4 spent an hour with his care giver this afternoon. From next week onwards he will spend an extra hour on Tuesday afternoons with her.

Play Date

A friend of mine looks after her grandson most days of the week. This same friend co-lead playgroup last year with me. This year D4 is going to kindy and my friends grandson misses D4. In fact he isnt all that keen on going to playgroup any more. D4 isnt there anymore. Bless him

So this afternoon we got the boys together. We had left our surprise until we arrived and both boys were very excited to be together again. We went to the local pools. We all had fun. The local pools have a fun afternoon where they get the toys out for the preschoolers.

After that we went to my friends house and played with the toy trains, blocks and jigsaws for about 1/2 an hour. We have decided we will get together again :) We might even invite a few more of the children that use to go to playgroup and now go to kindy this year to join in our fun :)

Simple Womans Day Book

FOR TODAY... 8 February

Outside my window. . . its raining and dark

I am listening to... the rain

I am thinking... why do I have to wake up at 5 am sometimes

I am thankful for... the fact that I will probably go back to bed in a while and catch a few more zzzzs despite the fact that Ive had a coffee :)

I am wearing... my dressing gown

I am remembering... the weekend :)

I am going... to home school B14 this morning and pick up my catalogs in the rain this afternoon

I am currently reading... The Doulos Story - Elaine Rhoton

I am hoping... to get some more young adult reading books soon for the changelle and because Im quite enjoying them

Noticing that... its quite warm already . . . so now Im wearing just my Little Miss Naughty nightie :)

Around the house... I need to hang some more washing out today - its ok that its raining I have my washing lines under the porch/carport :)

One of my favorite things . . . is the silence of the early morning

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . . picking up my boy from his dad this afternoon :), My job, taking B14 to drama which started again last week :)

From my picture journal...

This is an award I received from Alice this morning. What a cheerful start to the week :)

Shes a special lady who loves books, photography and having a good time with her friends :)

I feel blessed to have her as a bloggy friend :)

I would like to pass this award on to

Devil Dogs Wife

Amy

my cousin Meg

Sunday Ponderings

When I got home last night S17 was talking to B14 on their cellphones. I was loud excited and hyped. S17 wanted to know what Id been drinking. While there was a lot drinking at the concert - I was not one of them. I have a very strong stance about drinking and driving anyway. The concert was held at a vineyard hence some people were drinking.

Anyway, it took a while to come down off my Ronan high :) :) :)

This morning in church I got to thinking if I was so energized hyped excited etc about Ronan. If I feel so moved by his music. Then whats it going to be like when I finally met Jesus in Heaven. He is so much more than anyone else can ever be. I should be just as hyped, excited, energized by Jesus now. Mind you maybe it will happen when I get to met Him face to face. Seeing Ronan puts a whole different dimension on my feelings about him.

No wonder the bible says we will not experience any pain. That there will be no more sadness. That God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4) We will be so much more energized than I was last night.

When I think about meeting Jesus fact to face I am reminded of a stage play I saw last year. It showed that when we enter the gates of Heaven Jesus will greet us with an huge hug. How awesome that will be There were some people last night that shook Ronans hand when he went down into the crowd behind a barrier. When I get to Heaven there wont be a barrier I will freely be able to hug Jesus. I imagine I would say thank you for being here for me. Thank you for loving me. No wonder another imagine I have of heaven is singing praises to Him. In the Bible it says that we will hear and I imagine join in singing:-

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" Revelation 5:13

I sang and sang last night at the concert. How much more I have to thank Jesus for. How much more of a party atmosphere there will be with everyone praising and thanking God and Jesus for having me/us there with Him - in a place that has already prepared for me (John14:2). We will be worshipping Him the one whom made "the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water" Revelations 14:17 (and indeed even knitted us together).

Last night I got to the concert early. I sat in the allocated seating part. As I was the first one there I felt like a VIP. I wasnt really - people soon started filling up the seats. In Heaven there is an allocated place for those that believe. We are important VIPs - we are the chosen people (1 Peter2:9). We are Gods special children (Romans 8:15-17)

I had made the sign and it took a while for me to displayed it and dance with it above my head. As someone reminded me in church this morning people dont always feel they can shrug off our insecurities and worship fully. However in Heaven we will feel just as passionate about things and in particular Jesus. There we will be less passive reactions though. There we wont have insecurities. There we will love and sing praises actively. There I will stand up and sing my heart out with my whole body loving what Im doing thanking my God.

One last after each song there was a lot of clapping and cheering. I was among those showing my appreciation of Ronans music - I imagine there will be a lot of cheering, clapping and love and appreciation shown in Heaven too when we join in shouting "Hallelujah!!! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God." (Revelation 19:1)

That will be the day when I met Jesus. It will be the day that will never end that I wont ever have to come off my Jesus High. Hallelujah. Amen

Ronan

Tonight I went to see Ronan Keating in concert.

I got there early and cued for a couple of hours. It worked out really well going early I was able to park right across the road from the park.

When I finally got in I was the only one in the allocated seating area to start with. Felt like a VIP :)

Peter Urlich was on before Ronan. He is quite good. I might try listening to more of his music. He was quite jazzy.

Then the man himself came on. Oh my hes even nicer, handsome and wonderful in real life.

I sang

I danced

I held up my poster that Id made this morning.

I even shed a tear when he sang his last song - soppy me LOL

He said hes coming back at the end of the year with Boyzone - guess who might have to be there ;)