one, two, three - thanks

Like Kim at nannykim's place I have

been following Ann Voskamp's1000 gifts principles,

that is to give thanks for 3 things each day for a year.

I meet a friend for lunch every Monday and

 we share our three things for each day of the previous week

with each other, that way we are accountable.

It is fun.

It is quite surprising to see what our separate

interpretations of each days three things is.

Sometimes we are coming at it from a totally different

perspective, but that makes it all the more interesting.

It is a great place to kick off our prayer time together.

Today the first thing to give thanks for was something in the sky and although this photo was

not taken today it is fairly typical of a Taieri sky

 at this time of the year - summer believe it or not.

As our summer sun is really vicious because of the hole in the ozone layer over us, it is great to sometimes have

some cloud cover. And this year our southern farmers are experiencing drought conditions so if the clouds

are a precursor of rain that is even better.

(As long as it falls at night time :)

Secondly we are to give thanks for one thing from my memory.

Well what can I say, I give thanks for my

childhood memories a wonderful time 

spent in the outdoors with cousins and friends

and in an atmosphere of utter well being. (The 50's)

The photo above is one we took when we were back in

 the ol' hometown last year.

These are the memorial gates from outside my

old primary school. The school buildings are long gone

 but the gates were saved and are now at the entrance to  Dixon Park which has a children's playground and

a creek running through it. A real symbol of my childhood.

The picture above is a representation of the third thanks -

one thing that is ugly-beautiful. This is one of the steam punk sculptures we saw in Oamaru near the end of last year.

 I'm not sure about the beautiful part of it but they sure

were ugly. I think they probably emphasised the beauty of the lovely white Oamaru stone on the buildings round about them.

Well that's it. I'm keen to meet up with my friend on

 Monday so we can share God's gifts with each other

 and have a bit of a giggle.

Goodnight all, and have a good week.

pretty flowers and a snowman

Aren't my flowers pretty? My sister in law picked them for me from her garden just before Christmas and I have just thrown the last of them out this week.

And I have been sooooo gooooood. My Christmas stuff is all packed away for the year. The tree is back in its box and the bins of decorations are back in the man cave somewhere - I leave the putting away of the bins and tree up to my GKB.

 Friday 6th being twelfth night I thought I should make an effort and do it. So after breakfast and doing a little bit of essential housework I got stuck in, and you know what? I enjoyed it! When my GKB arrived home I was on a roll and hadn't even stopped for a coffee. Mind you, these days he gets home in time for a late lunch, so it isn't as bad as it sounds. I packed everything up and then decided I might as well clean the whole room while I was moving furniture about so everything is dusted and polished and shiny and bright. My GKB even luxed (vacuumed, hoovered) the floors for me cos he knows that is the one job I really hate doing.

I do have one Christmas thingy still out though and that is because my little grandboys haven't discovered what it is yet. I think with everyone being outside on Christmas Day they just didn't see it.

The snowman covers a lolly container and is currently filled with mini packets of gummi bears.

 I have had it for years. My own kids loved when it came out but the 2 grandboys haven't had enough Christmases here yet to have discovered what it is - we have turns at hosting on Christmas Day. They will be back from holiday at the end of the week though.

Well my bed is calling so I am going to say goodnight to you all.

Have a great week.

Christmas Day at our place - in pictures

Christmas Day dawned beautiful and sunny and the clan came to our place for a traditional roast Christmas dinner. After sitting out under the gazebo and umbrella for youngest grandchild to give out presents (a family tradition) we went inside to eat and then outside again to enjoy the company and play with the new toys.



the dinner table finally set





some of the clan socialising



what can I find in here?




where did that go?




cheers



more socialising...




while the boys play cricket




preparing the desserts...




...only cold ones this year





deserted table ...











Merry Christmas to one and all

Only a week to go and it will be Christmas Eve. I can't wait.

The Christmas Eve service this year is at 9pm and the Christmas Day one is at 9am,

so  that is easy to remember.

Then it's all on at our place.

The family will all gather here for Christmas Dinner,

a traditional roast meal this year as that is what my GKB has requested

 and what my little mother prefers.

Our Christmas tree is finally up and decorated - I thought

 for while we wouldn't get it up,

life has been so busy.

We had the youth group breakup

and barbecue last night,

cold weather but the kids got out

 and played mini golf while they waited for the

  food and they were happy.

Above is a picture of the tree in the church that

was officially decorated  by the youth but in

reality was done by the leaders with

 one or 2 of the kids helping.

 We think it turned out pretty good.



These two pictures are of the

Christmas tree the Sunday School

kiddies decorated, and the crib

underneath that one of the older ladies

 in the church made for them.

They had a lot of fun doing this,

 did I tell you we have mainly boys in

our Sunday School.

Only 2 (brave) girls.

Tomorrow they put on their tableau during 

 the morning service

and have their breakup and prize giving.

It's going to be a lot of fun, 

we haven't had a real practice yet. 

Both the trees were decorated with love

 and to share with the community.

The Christmas tree in the foyer at my work place.

A lovely way to be greeted as you come in the door

 and the residents like to sit out there and see it too.

I thought it was very pretty.

A final word -  a reminder of the reason for the season.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3: 16 &17

I wish you all a merry and blessed

Christmas and a very prosperous 2012



Christmas doings

What a busy time of year, I'm finding it hard to fit

 in everything I need to do. I haven't even got my

Christmas tree or any decorations out yet, let alone put anything up. But...

I have got the parcels for Japan all wrapped and in the post and so number one son and his lovely wife  should get them some time this week.

My youngest grandson came with me to post them, he was having time off from school because he hadn't been well and there was a BIG bus trip coming up and he wanted to be well enough for that - of course. He's five.

After we had been to the post office we went for a drink at a 'grown ups' cafe, as opposed to McDonald's or similar. After he picked what he wanted to eat and drink I let him find us a table while I paid up.

He sat very nicely and half way through he said to me very earnestly

"you know Granma, I haven't done this before".

I thought it was a precious moment.

Yesterday we went in to the city to watch the Santa parade, youngest grandson and his sister were on a couple of floats. Their brother was too shy to take part.

The Lego float has Daniel in it, he is the Lego man in the red.

The one below that is a back view of his older sister - trust us to be on the wrong side of the street to see either of them properly, but it was a fun time.

We took my little mother in with us as well and afterwards she told us that was the first Santa Parade she had ever been in to see. Oh dear, I hadn't realised that.

Tonight I shall try to get some Christmas cards done.

Jonah and the Whale

I went out for a walk today, the first time for a few weeks.

I won't get too fit this way.

I also have 'the bike' back in the house

but so far it has been relegated

to the spare bedroom.

Definitely not the best use of it.

This morning I was also one of the escorts when

 we took the Sunday School out to do a photo shoot

of the story of Jonah and the Whale.

 It was mainly boys aged between 4 and 12,

with one brave girl.

Very energetic.

We went to several different parts of the city,

 including the beach,

where I managed to end up with sand filled sneakers.

But I guess that is what happens when

the sand keeps disappearing from under your feet

while you're trying to get up the bank.

We had a lot of fun and ended up at a playground 

 where we rounded off the morning with a picnic -

of (chocolate) fish, crisps (chips) and popcorn.

After all that, you would think I would just want to

 sit and relax but it was so good to get a nice

enough day to get out I walked about twice

the distance I normally do.

 I had some photo's to put up too

 but for some reason tonight  they won't load.

Never mind, another time maybe.

Goodnight all, have a lovely week : D)

Peguins and Oamaru stone

Last weekend I went to Oamaru for the South Island conference for New Zealand Aglow.

It was held in the newly refurbished Opera House, which is in the picture below. It is a beautiful old Victorian building built from the lovely white Oamaru stone.

A lovely venue where we were really well looked after.

As it was not a live in conference my GKB decided to come with us - us being my mother and me. We stayed in motels and he did his thing while we were 'conferencing'.

On our first night we had been promised an 'Adventure' so after the formalities were over we were all asked to put our hats and coats and scarves on and given instructions on how to get to the Little Blue Penguin colony. And those who had cars were asked to give a lift to some one who needed one - preferably some one they didn't know.

A great way of meeting people :)

No photo's allowed unfortunately so the closest thing we have is the one above,

the penguin is carved in Oamaru stone,

me with my little mother in the background, taken the day we departed.

Sunday was quite a nice day so my GKB spent the morning wandering around the town,

went to the market and had a look at the historic precinct.

           There were several sculptures in the middle of town as well, which are hard to describe really,

but are weirdly, or should I say darkly, attractive!! 

                    Steampunk - I don't know what it is supposed to represent but I have put up a couple of   photo's for you. Man stuff I guess.

And one more photo taken that morning of lovely St Luke's Church, just because I like it.

 Have a good weekend folks.