Upside down or right-side up? Celebrations down under…

I’ve been thinking & reading a lot lately about the history & colonisation of New Zealand & how & why things have become part of the way things are done & celebrated in New Zealand.

One of the things that really started my thoughts towards the things we celebrate is the discussion around Matariki & if we should make it a public holiday here. Celebrations in a society show what we place value on. What we celebrate shows what we honour & what is important to us.

Matariki is the Maori New Year & celebrated in June or July dependant on the moon phases & stars. The first question in my mind was why would the New Year have been in the middle of winter? In my short span of life and due to my cultural bias I understand that New Year is in the height of summer…but for what reason? I had to think this through a bit more. 

The seasons, moon & stars play a big role in your life rhythms when you live from the land.  You are more in tune with so many different parts of the food chain, such as how hard it was to produce or gather that food source, how scarce or plentiful it might be, how long you had to wait for it and whether it was the right season to plant it.

I can imagine that the celebrations and or rest days that each society had would be very closely tied to planting and harvesting, which was what your basic survival rose & fell on. Holidays and celebrations would be in direct relationship with hard work.  

I can imagine that the rhythm of a year tied to the land might go something like this…

Starting with the new hope of spring, with a spring in your step you sense the world awakening, its time to plant & plan and set things in motion.  New life, new birth, lambs, daffodils, things that were hidden or hibernating or germinating spring forth.  Even the word makes sense for this season!

This is a period of hard work, but also enjoyable as you look forward to what is to come. A new year, a new season – HOPE. Excitement of the first fruits of your labour would be a natural celebration in this season.

Then comes summer, the hotter months where maybe you don’t have as much energy, but you can tend to your crops just the little they need and rest and enjoy some summer fun. 
I can imagine some family celebrations fitting into this season amongst the maintenance of your hard spring work.  The summer equinox would be the height of daylight & if you slept by the sun then summer wouldn’t afford you much rest. 

Autumn or in American terms Fall (which makes more sense in terms of word meaning – like Spring) would appear to be the next peak of work after the summer lull. 

As you harvest the crops you had planted in spring, your survival of winter is dependant on this season just as much as the beginning of the year.  Another period of hard work as you bring in the harvest, store it, tidy up & finish off the season.  Harvest festival & thanksgiving celebrations make sense in this time period, especially towards the end of the period as a sense of satisfaction would be prominent.

As Autumn/Fall finishes and the days draw closer you body is signalling a time to slow down, hunker by the fire, time to do some indoor projects and learning that the other seasons haven’t afforded you the time for.  I can imagine this would be a time of reflection on the past season,

the good times, the sad times, people who have passed & a chance to decide what you will take with you into the new year & what you will pack and leave in the past.  Matariki as a celebration would fall into this season. 

As I have described these seasons, I feel a sense of natural rhythms, one that our bodies respond to.  It is only in very recent times that society no longer has to base their eating, sleeping & buying habits around seasons.  I can now easily go to the supermarket and buy strawberries in the middle of winter and because of this we are not so in tune with the seasons & how our bodies and society are naturally based around these simple things. 

Not only that, but in New Zealand our yearly celebrations and a lot of our public holidays have been cut and pasted from our colonial past.  Not only do a lot of them not have much relevance to our society or culture today (such as Guy Fawkes!) they were implemented into our calendar without any thought for the fact that our country is in the southern hemisphere with the seasons at opposite times of the year from Mother England who are in the northern hemisphere.  On the surface, this may seem a bit obvious but when you think a bit harder it makes you wonder why we have Easter (which is a Spring festival based around new life) in the middle of Autumn?

The ground swell to celebrate Matariki in New Zealand is a great start & I think it would be good for us to have this as part of calendar.  It is also good to see the reasons behind it and what it is about, being taught in schools so our children and hopefully society has some idea behind the celebration, which give us more meaning that “just another day off”.

I would love to see the discussion go further and deeper though and decide on what the 10-12 public holidays in New Zealand we should have and what they are for.  At the moment a good portion of them are devoid of meaning and don’t fit into our normal rhythms of life.

We have the freedom next year to choose what we celebrate & when we take holidays as we will be homesechooling. I think this is an awesome opportunity to “reset” and decide what our rhythms might look like, which will be totally subject to change & revision.  I have outlined them below as a draft idea.  I have chosen not to bother with marking Queens birthday or Anniversary Day as these at this point don’t carry much meaning for me.  

 

My suggestions and a bit more explanation of how our family might try to make it work…

SPRING – HOPE                            Sept, Oct, Nov

1.     Easter – a long weekend celebration remembering Jesus death & resurrection.

2.    Arbour Day & Labour Day – use this long weekend to plant a tree & a garden & dig a bit deeper into why both of these days are important.

 

SUMMER – FUN                            Dec, Jan, Feb

1.     Christmas – a  2 day celebration with family.  Unfortunately tradition Christmas has become commercialised with spend $$$ on junk – that connotation is present even in the name “Boxing Day”. So we will reclaim this as a family day, with no presents – just a good family celebration.  Maybe a day for each side of the family?  

2.    Waitangi Day – based on its historic date we will choose a unique way each year to celebrate this, helping us to understand the past better & what our country is founded on.  This could coincide with a 7-10 day tenting holiday.

 

AUTUMN/FALL – HARVEST              Mar, April, May

1.     Thanksgiving – a feast with family & friends to remind ourselves of how blessed we are.  Be a good thing here to invite others too who are homeless or struggling.

2.    ANZAC – using this day to be thankful & remember those who have sacrificed for us.  Depending on the child’s age each year will determine what we do.

 

WINTER – REFLECTION                   June, July, Aug

1.     Matariki & New Year – celebrated with a good meal, friends & family, fire & fireworks.

    Retreat - Rest break – a 7-10 day holiday to re-gather our thoughts & plan, dream & visions for the next year.  A weekend retreat away as a couple could be a part of this.  

Upside down or right-side up? Celebrations down under…

Coping, adjusting & living

It has been a week now since we arrived back into the country.  It has really taken me awhile to adjust, not only physically (jet lag & tiredness) but also culturally & emotionally.  It seems strange.  Life seems weird.  It also seems kinda boring, yet un-doable, same old boring yet really busy.  I can't really put my finger on it just yet, but there is a restlessness -- a wanting more, unsatisfied with now. But maybe my call for now is to enjoy life fully in the present & for me to be the change.  That's my challenge & taking one day at a time...each step the light for my path comes with me & I know that God will reveal where & what to next as He wishes.
Two posts that I have read today really hit the spot.  The first "When feeling overwhelmed doesnt go away".  I really liked this bit:
Perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to our contentment is the expectation that life ought to be easy.
Then:
He is not looking to WHEN to have joy in the circumstances, but WHO to go to in the midst of them.

Life isnt easy -- get over it! And enjoy!

Then the next post was "How to have the best Birthday, the best today, the best any day".
And although this is long & about the authors birthday challenge, the bit I liked was:

“It takes ridiculous courage to reach out of your comfort zone.“

And then you might catch his eye and say — What if the truth is: every comfort zone is really a death trap.”

That every comfort zone is the zone where you get comfortably cooked. That every comfort zone is where you’re the proverbial frog slowly cooked to death in oh, such comfortable water.

Break out of your comfort zone — and you break free.

Get out of your comfort zone to comfort others — and the Comforter meets you there with more comfort than you can imagine.   

Food for thought...

Coping, adjusting & living

Life & Sudoku

As I pondered the fact that it is annoying to have more questions than answers Jay commented to me that sometimes it feels as though your life is like a game of sudoku. 

I enjoy playing sudoku & I even more enjoy beating Jon while playing (we used to have timed games & see who could complete it the fastest!) even though it is a game of logic & generally I sux at anything logical. (Secretly I think I'm quite a logical person but that it just takes me some out loud crazy thoughts to get to the right logical conclusion!)

Sudoku by logical deduction & reasoning allows you to place numbers in little boxes. Similarly it feels as though our life is often like that. Some numbers (or decisions) are obvious by way of elimination yet others require previous numbers to fall into place first before you are able to see where they go. Others require a whole lot more thought process and often by a huge amount of deduction, reasoning and differing  perspective are you then able to place a key number which helps the rest all fall into place. Sometimes too you are fairly certain that you have a choice of just 2 options for one box but again you are waiting on other situations to help clear up which of those two is right. 

As we have taken 6 weeks to go back to Ukraine & assess our life there it seems we have come back with some numbers sorted out but with a lot more question marks or possibilities in other squares. It seems as though now it is a waiting game & seeing how God guides & moves other boxes around as to the certainty of the next number which in turn will bring other things clearer & more sure. 

Sudoku is not subjective -- there is only one right answer for each box. Sometimes you wish life would be like that -- an absolute for each decision -- but who really wants to be a square person with numbers all in the right sequence?

Life & Sudoku

Change & moving

These past few weeks have been rather emotional as we have been back in our house here in Ukraine. It has been hard but good, sad yet happy. We had heard of brokenness & victories. Life has moved on for us & people we know here (that is normal!)
As we near the end of our time here we have been trying to reflect of what God wants us to do.
Should we try to sell the house? Do we want to move back here? What is a call? How are missionaries effective? We have had lots of discussions with many people & our brains are full with conflicting thoughts.
Today bought some clarity for me. As I was listening to the Audio Adrenaline song
"He moves, you move" it started to get me thinking...
We need to wait for God to move. The last instruction we had received was to go home & have kids. We have not yet received any other or the next instruction. The pillar of fire is still above this house in Ukraine & in NZ. We are waiting & still fulfilling the last instruction.
While we wait we need to be busy carrying on with life & learning & growing & making the most of every opportunity. Not waiting & wasting but waiting & growing.
Conclusions while here:
1.  Back to NZ for another term (2-3 years)
2.  Most probably not back to serve in Rzhyshchiv
3.  Need to have project (most probably linked with camping) to come back to.
Although many things seem to be still up in the air, this small seed has given me some sort of hope that we are on the right track -- we don't need to see the full path ahead -- just trusting one step at a time.
God gives us light enough to guide our way not a massive spotlight to reveal to the end of time -- kinda glad about that!

Change & moving

Life's Good -- LG

It's not about having everything 


It's about being & living & pushing through & loving & giving & getting up to go again.

It's about believing & seeing from a different perspective. It's about doing small things & hard things. 

It's about the actual grind of life & transforming the everyday numbness into the everyday moments. 

Fairy tales & fictitious stories are just that.  Feel good loveliness but no substance of day to day real life. 

The way your life is portrayed to others can so often be a pretense, an outward appearance of having it all together, because who wants to look like you haven't made it or are struggling. 

But the truth be told we are all the same -- mere mortals who all struggle, some are just better actors at hiding it than others.  Comparison with others is the greatest killer of hope. 

Hope that as a small seed there is a chance. Hope that even though its not like the others it's still ok. Hope that with what I have, who I am & giving it a go life will become the story of fulfillment without regrets. 

Life's Good -- LG

Housework: Whose job?

Not long after we were married we meet a couple whose premise was, "If you are both working fulltime, then $20-$30 a week for sometime to clean your house is not much for the weekend relaxation & peace of mind it gives -- especially for the wife!"  We both thought this was a great idea & although only once in our lives so far have we done this, I must admit, it was really nice when it happened.
As you know I have been thinking a bit lately about productivity & the new role I find myself in as a stay at home Mum.  It is a role & job & I have heard often the classic -- "Mothering is a fulltime 24/7 job, you are a counsellor, teacher, nurse, taxi driver, you do this & that & whatever, lade da de da."  I dont disagree with that but at the same time it makes me cringe because it seems as though it comes from the need to justify your work & make yourself feel a bit better about a job that no one really likes to do.  I wonder if we have our thinking a bit out of whack on this one.
I read this article the other day "Strong marriages depend on dad's involvement with kids and chores."  I enjoyed what it had to say & got me thinking back to paying for a housekeeper if you are working fulltime.  I also was reflecting on another article " Motherhood is a calling & where your children rank"  and although I dont fully agree with everything in either articles it really made me wonder about how we view being a stay at home Mum.
Here's where I am heading...  My job used to be school teaching.  I would be at school from about 8-4 (approx) each day (or the days I worked).  I would sometimes have extra work to do but mostly my job fitted within those hours.  Before & after school my life consisted of pretty normal things such as grocery shopping, cooking & general living stuff.  I would also have hobbies, time with friends, volunteering in the community & down time relaxing.

Said no one ever!

Now I have changed careers -- I am now instead of a school teacher a mother.  I am with my child for about (at the moment) 8-10 or so hours a day (the rest she is sleeping) and in those hours I have differing tasks that need completing & stuff that needs to happen -- that is my job.  It does seem a lot longer hours than I am used to, but like any new job it takes awhile to adjust to & learn the ropes.  The rest of my life should still have the other things in it, like it used to.
My job is not to keep the house clean, or finish all the washing or make sure the loo is cleaned & baking is in the tin -- these are things that I do because it is part of my general living stuff.  If my fulltime job (being a Mum) gets in the way of these things, then maybe we need to look at hiring some one for a few hours a week.
Maybe for some this is no big deal -- but for me this is a new way of thinking, a revelation that has changed the way I perceive what I do.  I hate cleaning & would never voluntarily become a cleaner -- and being a stay at home Mum is not that -- I am a mother -- that is my role/job.  I find this rather freeing & helps me to see my day in a different light.  And just in case you are wondering -- I love my new job :-)
Well that's what I reckon -- what do you think?

Housework: Whose job?

Today's score

Well today's productivity score (see last post for reference) would probably be a 4/10 based on external factors! After a 3:30am wakeup that never really ended (unusual fro Gabriella) there has not been a lot of energy or excitement about today! On my to-do list was the sheets, baby's washing, finish painting the bookcase, plunket visit & make more of baby's food -- of which I have accomplished two!
I am wondering if our minds/society/education & schooling have us so hard wired into extrinsic or external benefits.  I do a job because I get paid or because someone can notice it & pat me on the back.  Doing stuff for only intrinsic or long term gain is that much harder to get motivated for.
I'm still in the process of trying to figure out a new way of scoring productivity -- any ideas?  
Also thought about what our society & culture has as expectations toward mothers -- I am interested in studying this a bit more as to why so many mothers I have talked to over the space of my adult life & how many blogs & facebook followers that are mothers who struggle with the baby/toddler years & being "stuck at home."  Has this been the case for other generations & cultures? What do we as a community & culture expect that produces these frustrations?
On the video I blogged yesterday talked about feeling isolated.  Yesterday for me I spent the day with people coming in & out of our home, feeding & hosting them, chilling around the fire (or heating up actually) and just spending some good quality time.  It felt good and although I wouldnt want that all day every day, I wonder if we as a society have walled ourselves off from normal "village" life.  Part of me would love the community & relationships that develop from living in a commune, marae, village or extended family situation.
Be interested in your thoughts...leave a comment if you wish :-)

While you are thinking about it have a look at this for a laugh

Today's score

The productivity curse

There is no preparation for being a stay at home Mum.  It is something I have always wanted to be & so thankful that I can now be one.  But the reality is so very different from the ideal (another post brewing on this particular topic -- watch this space).
I have at other times in my life not been able to get a job, or only worked part-time but all of these have been short-lived & I have filled the time in many differing ways.
I'm not saying that now I am a stay at home Mum that I have oodles (love that word) of time on my hands, but I do find myself stuck in a "productivity" mindset.  I have always been a " to do list" kind of person, so nothing has changed there, but now that I am scraping the barrel on my list & the jobs are getting less & less interesting, challenging, or desirable (ie stuff I just keep putting off but needs to be done -- such as sorting out the photo albums!) my days are getting to become rather routine & boring!
Here's a great video that addresses all of that...
I love to be creative, to be busy & do stuff.  I love to re-engineer situations & make chaos into order.  This satisfies me & makes me feel "productive." If my day consists of washing, fiddling on the computer, cooking, feeding & not much else (often because I don't feel like doing much else) then I have to deal with my thought processes of not being productive.  Maybe this is an overly strong work ethic (hmm on second thoughts, I don't think I have that disease!) or the way I was bought up (idle hands create mischief) or a case of listening to myself instead of talking to myself, but maybe also I need to define what "productive" is so the guilts don't kick in & each day can be a productive day for me.

pro·duc·tiv·i·ty

  [proh-duhk-tiv-i-tee, prod-uhk‐]  Show IPA

noun

1.

the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services: The productivity of the group's effort surprised everyone.

2.

Economics . the rate at which goods and services having exchange value are brought forth or produced: Productivity increased dramatically last year.   

When I use this definition I don't feel like most days are productive.  When I searched the internet & found "7 drivers of workplace productivity"  the seventh one really struck a chord with me.  It was "measuring what matters."  Re-defining productive as measuring what matters I think is a great revelation to help me see each day as productive.

So what does matter?
1.  My baby is feed, happy, loved, trained, clean, extended, provided for & safe.
2.  Our home is clean, happy, welcoming, mostly tidy, warm & safe.
3.  Our marriage is feed, nurtured, not taken for granted & fun.
4.  I have some creative outlets that extend my brain & I have some thing to show for it.

I dunno, have I missed something?  Am I on the right track?  Will this redefinition actually help me to see things in a different light?  Can I turn this into a to-do list so I can visually cross things off?

Does productivity need to be measured in "what did you do today?"  Do productive things show up over time rather than in day increments?  Does productivity have to be seen?

 Is life made up of doing small things & hard things?

The productivity curse

My thoughts

Today I look back & choose thankfulness...
Gods faithfulness & love
The direction & choices my life has taken
My life partner -- our children
Gods blessing
Our health & wealth
Passion & vision

I look forward & choose increase...
In Gods work
In our family
In our influence -- salt & light
In our intentional living 
In our marriage 
In the impossible 

I pause now to enjoy the small things that are the sum of fruitfulness...

For its in the little parts, the moments, the every day mundane things that our course is continually set, our attitude developed & sails trimmed as we journey through life.
Choosing to pause & enjoy the small things which are the sum of fruitfulness, rather than looking for the next thing or thrill -- life is good NOW!
In all of our insignificance, we & all we do plays a significant part in the whole picture -- life in PERSPECTIVE. 
We build precept upon precept & day upon day as we choose. Each time the choice makes a mark & moves us more toward the outcome -- life is INTENTIONAL. 
Choose the outcome but also choose each day to live in the light of the goal. With both things held in tension the small affects the big & the big affects the small. Little becomes big, big is broken down into little. All of it is a choice through which the impossible can be achieved. 
Life is a CHOICE -- to enjoy & make the most of :-)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -- Robert Brault

My thoughts

Our journey so far

2 weeks ago we got the call from the clinic to start the daily injections.  Since Jon has been doing training at St Johns it was going to be his job to jab me.  I wasn't really looking forward to it in case of side affects etc.  The first jab freaked me out a bit & I found myself sitting in a chair with the world spinning & feeling like I was going to spew.  The little "anxiety" attack passed pretty quickly & the rest of the injections were really no problem.  I did end up with a few bruises on my stomach & it wasn't all that nice, but my body responded well & almost felt like really enjoyed the hormones!

After a week of injections we travelled down to Auckland for our first scan. They found about 13 follicles the biggest being 16mm.  Two days later we had another scan & this time measured 12 follicles the biggest being 26mm.  By this stage I was feeling rather uncomfortable & bloated which is understandably because each month you normally develop 1 follicle which might get to 28mm on its own, yet I had another 11 or so in there too!

Last Friday night (2nd Mar) they instructed us to have the trigger injection which makes my body ovulate within 40 hours.  Therefore my scheduled egg collection was 36 hours after the injection before it would want to ovulate.

Here is Jon's viewpoint on the next bit of the process...

On Sunday Ruth had a mini-operation which went well but it wasn't all that easy for her. As they were putting her under the anaesthetic she freaked with the nasal oxygen and asked to sit up at which point she thought he couldn't go through with it. She steadied herself and prayed and after a short 10 minute intermission the procedure began. There were 2 female nurses - one for comfort, one as a doctor's assistant and then there was the male doctor who was collecting the eggs and the scientist (female) who was in charge off looking for eggs in the fluid. The doctor used a 12 inch needle to poke into each ovary under the aide of ultrasound to guide his way. I was in the room watching the procedure on screen and listening as the scientist kept us in the count of how many eggs were being found 4...8...14. There were a total of 14 retrieved and as Ruth was recovering I had to go and provide my part of the equation and so those have been combined in a process called ICSI (more accurate than conventional IVF) and we are waiting to hear back how many were successful. Apparently, not all the eggs are appropriate for fertilization as some of them are immature. Then after fertilization there is usually an 80% success rate of embryos produced. 

The replacement procedure, of which they allow us to put back only one as we are young, is to happen on Friday all going to plan. 

All of this has made us very thankful that we are back in NZ and not trying to attempt this procedure in Ukraine. The added pressure of not understanding would have clinched it for Ruth I reckon and the fact that at every step of the way it is all about the money and you providing your own equipment. And then not being sure if they are telling you the truth and asking for bribes...That is just a randomness that you don't need when you are getting into something as private and intimate as this. 

We have just had a phone call from the clinic to say that of the 14 eggs collected, 10 were mature enough to use & of those 10, 8 have fertilised effectively.  WOW -- that''s a big tribe :-)

More updates to come I assume, but it has been extremely humbling to have people all over NZ & the world praying & caring for us.  God has given us a huge peace about this & although hasn't been easy, we keep on trusting Him.  He is a good God & we rely on that fact.  

Our journey so far

In other news

Well push came to shove and we decided to make some tentative plans for the next 2-3 years to give us a little outline to live by.  Of course they are very fluid and completely open to change at any moment.  But the basic outline looks like this...
2011
Continue on in our jobs here, travel to Australia for the July holidays and away for our 10th wedding anniversary (maybe Queenstown), camps in April (already done) and Oct holidays, carry on with youth, after-school club etc, look into adoption.
2012
Maybe carry on with jobs or else start business, travel to Ukraine for 6 weeks in June/July, camps in Jan, April & Sept, complete IVF in March.
2013
Temporary jobs for the first term, camps in Jan & April, then return to Ukraine in May for a term of 3 years to start with, maybe working at a camp in northern Ukraine during the holidays or Romania?

So thats the plan, will see what it looks like in a year or two...

In other news

The medicine maze

Almost 2 years ago we went to the doctors to begin the process of finding out why we weren't getting pregnant. After some initial tests we were told that Jon was fine, but that my progesterone levels were low & that I was not ovulating.  Because we found this out 2 days before we flew back to Ukraine, it was impossible to complete any follow-up here in NZ.  I was advised before we left that I could take a drug called "clomifene" which would help me ovulate.  I was also alerted to a natural alternative "chaste berry". Considering my options I decided to buy some of the natural pills before we left.
Since then I have taken those tablets, then turned to clomifene, also tried a naturopath, measuring my temperature etc, changing my diet and a myriad of other things, all to no avail really.  The only one I am really thankful for is changing my diet.  I am now back at my ideal weight and feel a whole lot better for it, and  know my body appreciates it too.
We then came back to New Zealand, and have again pursued two different options.  We have pursued the natural path through a clinic in Tauranga.  They too told me that my progesterone levels were very low.  I have been taking stuff from them for the past 6 weeks.  Jon also had a test done there, but based on the fact that we thought it was my side that needed addressing, we decided not to pursue it any further.
Alongside this we have also been having appointments with a fertility specialist.  After the initial visit and some tests we went back to him to be told that my test results are fine, but that Jon's count is low.  Talk about a bit of a bomb!  I was really sure what to think, aside from confusion and frustration, I then found it hard to know what to believe.  We had been living under a whole different perception for the last two years! We then thought to ring the clinic in Tauranga to get Jon's results and they confirmed too that his count was low.  The specialists only suggestion to us was to pursue IVF, which we could get for free,  but on a waiting list of at least a year.
Lots to think about, sift through and pray about.  It gets you thinking though...what was the first doctor doing when he interrupted our test results, and who are you suppose to believe.  How much are doctors driven by pharmaceutical companies??  If I got the same advice from a builder, he would be back to fix his job or refund my money. From now on I will be asking for all of my results on paper and interrupting them myself.  Its a pity we cant just pay for the services we want, and not for the doctor to tell us what we already know or can find out!

The medicine maze

New Lifestyle Choices

We have been thinking a lot lately about lifestyle changes and choices, so our life reflects intention and direction. We have already started with food and attempting to eat a more healthier, whole food diet.  Now that we are going back to NZ we have also started to think about our time and work choices.  Here is what we have drafted up, I'm sure there will be some tweaking as we start to work it out, but basically we want to intentionally make time for the things you never seem to have time for. We are hoping our week might look like this...

20 hours -- paid work

10 hours -- community work
Volunteer, does not benefit us
Youth, social justice, camps, practical stuff etc

10 hours -- study/up-skilling/reading
Jon--  Music, Bible, Maori
Ruth-- Food/cooking, woodwork, Maori, drums

10 hours -- garden & maintenance
Vege garden, self-sufficiency, caring for our space

10 hours -- exercise
Volleyball, squash, touch, running, softball?

Basically works out to be 1.5 hours a day of each thing  (except work = 4 hours a day, but not Sat)

Sunday = day of rest & family time

New Lifestyle Choices

Why I don't like football...

With Italy's excellent theatrical performance last night against NZ it is time to air again this fantastic ad...

Rugby is NZ's national sport so with our team (the All Whites) making the football world cup (the first time in 28 years) its a big thing and brings the game of soccer into the spotlight.  
We are one of the biggest underdogs in the tournament, and although not expected to get through to the next round have drawn the two games we have played.  Last night it was against the reigning world champions.  Our boys played with a NZ psyche -- giving it their best shot.  "Possession favoured the Italians 57% versus 43%, Shots on goal 23 vs 3, shots on target 7 vs 1 and corners a staggering 15 to 0. And that is without mentioning that Italy can select from a pool of 3541 professional players which New Zealand can count on 25 who earn their living on a football field."
A great game but marred by the "Hollywood conmen" and the ref's biased whistle blowing.  I don't believe this is sour grapes, I just wished the penalties and free kicks were given both ways and not because a player makes it look worse, or wears the ref down with his arguing.  At the end of the day though I am proud of team & their achievements so far.  
Enough about yesterday's game, to the game in general.  According to statistics more children in NZ are now playing soccer as a regualr sport than rugby, although I think a lot then swap to rugby as they get older.  I love soccer as a game, and enjoy playing it. (esp indoor soccer because you don't have to run so far!)  For me the debate is not about which game is best -- that is like comparing apples to oranges.  It is about the spirit of the game and the attitude with which it is played.  While teaching in England we noticed that the general attitude on the football field was prevalent within the school too.  Holding you hands out with the "what about him" look or the ":it wasn't me" or "that's not fair", and general disregard and respect for the person who makes the calls.  You know they wont change their mind, but if you wear them down enough, then the next decision may carry a concession.  
Money makes the world go round, and I don't think it is any coincidence that the huge salaries that go with professional football helps to create character or self-discipline in many of the players.  It has become an arrogant and elitist sport that suffers from old-fashioned status class symbols and has failed to keep up the technological advances in sport. 
I love sport, and soccer is a great game, but professional football is for spoilt little brats, shame really how they have spoiled the game.  Long live the underdog!

Why I don't like football...

Food Glorious Food

I love to cook and I love to have people over for dinner.  Food is a huge part of culture & community.  It seems that in the past few months I have been reading, watching and thinking a lot about food & our bodies.  Here are some of the things that have really got me thinking. Click on the links-- its food for thought!
Reading...

You are Fat
Health
3 posts by Tall Skinny Kiwi (1 for each part of his name)
Watching...
Jamie Olivers Food Revolution & his TED speech
Food Inc (great documentary)
Thoughts...
Series of Choices (my personal health)
The vulnerable are unfortunately always exploited and abused.  You will have heard of emotional, sexual & physical abuse, but what about food abuse??
From Oliver Twist' tasteless and insufficient tale of food, and now today's fatty, processed rubbish, children and adults are not getting a fair chance.
Today's problem is mainly through a lack of education. Knowledge is power, and ignorance keeps people in the dark & under control.
I want to be a part of the food revolution.
I want to get myself & family eating healthily, and exercising regularly.
I want to grow or buy seasonal fresh fruit & vegetables, and produce our own meat.
I want to help educate my community so they have the choice to do the same.

Food Glorious Food

Interest based or issues based...

Been thinking a bit lately about my faith and how I want it to be an integral part of my life, not just an appendage.  This not only affects my buying habits, my eating & exercise habits, but what about church...
I came across this video today

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Funny? Or true..especially for those who attend church, or who are caught up in this routine & ritual and have to feed the beast every week.  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good/professional service that has been put together.  We just attended Passion Conference in Kiev on Monday which was great.  But I think it was great BECAUSE it doesn't happen every week. It is a BIG event that we look forward to.  It would be nice if it was about 3-4 times a year.  But when we try to reproduce that kind of thing every week we are quickly heading for burn out, and not only that but we lose the opportunity for relationship and community.  The old adage that "People don't care what you know until they know that you care," I think is very true here.  I want my faith to be outworked in relationships, people and community, and social justice, not meetings, events & entertainment. (Check out this for an example)  This I think is the faith that stacks up with what God requires of us.
PS: Check out Creative Worship Tour's take on this video

Interest based or issues based...

A series of choices

I have started reading a book called "Everyday Justice"  which has sparked off for me a fire that was already getting ready to burn.  I have been thinking a lot lately about my faith.  And that I want my faith to be the core of my being & life not an appendage that is added on and useful sometimes. This book really addresses this issue in regards to our shopping and other lifestyle decsions.  It talks about the impact our decisions have around the globe.  It is easy to read and I thoroughly recommend it if you are serious about your faith affecting all the decisions in your life.
In addition to this I have really been challenged about how I care for and look after my body.  One of my pet hates all my life is people who pick holes in the obvious mistakes or sins, but either ignore or cover up the not so obvious (but just as sinister, if not more) faults or sins.  Take for instance smoking and obesity.  Very often you will hear people espousing their views on how bad smoking is, and that it is a vice, yet on the other hand overlook the just as drastic health problem of over-eating, gluttony and obesity.  I used to be of the belief that 'oh well I have one life, one body, may as well make the most of it, use and abuse and enjoy, it will return to dust.'  Just lately I have come to realize that if my faith is at the core of my being, then lifestyle choices such as healthy food and exercise decisions should also be governed by my beliefs.  I need to demonstrate self-control and care for my body.  It is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be maintained. Check out these posts (1) (2) by "tall skinny kiwi" that have challenged me.

I am overweight (never used to be a problem until I got married!) and so I am taking steps to be more active in my lifestyle choices and also control the intake & choice of food.  And with the help of MyFitnessPal (online & on my Iphone) I am keeping my intake lower than my output.  My goal is to lose 7-10kgs, and I already can't find 2.5kgs. :-)
Life is a series of choices, and I want mine to add up to "Well done good & faithful servant."

A series of choices

Lest we forget

Last year we had a ANZAC day celebration at our place, this year it kind of crept up on us.  But our mate Gav (from Australia) rang us up with a good suggestion that we come over to his place for a roast, and then a movie for ANZAC day.  So last night after the boys had an ANZAC game of cricket (at the indoor stadium built by Wayne) we headed over to Gav's house.  Gav had also invited another couple -- Altug who is from Turkey and his wife from Ukraine.  We didn't try any re-enactments, although I wanted to do so commondo rolls and pretend shooting, but my maturity got the better of me!  The roast was very tasty -- thanks Gav!  We then watched "Kokoda" and earlier in the day with a friend I had watched "The Hurt Locker." I neither understood, or really enjoyed both of these movies. But I did make a comment after watching, that maybe it is good for us to watch these types of senseless war movies once a year or so to remind us -- "lest we forget."
I think it reminds us of 2 things...
**The courage of the soldiers gone before us, and how they gave their lives for our country.  This is something we need to be reminded of, so we don't take it for granted.
**The relative peace we have in our country, and the huge amount of things we can be thankful for. The fact that I don't have to wonder if the next bullet will hit me, that I can sleep easy at night in a comfortable house beside a wonderful husband.
These things I need to be reminded of when I start to complain about "the little things".  Lest I forget the bigger picture.

Lest we forget

Stirred to do something...

As a child growing up I was fed on books & autobiographies of people in history who stood for what they believed and made a difference in their communities and the world.  For some this even included death, and I'm sure for all, it included sacrifice, because they realized that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Today I was stirred by this video a friend passed on to me, and it raised a few questions.  I have always wanted to make a difference in my life...maybe this it? I have been given so much, how can I sit and do nothing?  Is this God's plan in us coming to Ukraine?

Stirred to do something...

Bigger is better?

In New Zealand we have a Maori term, mana, and although it is hard to translate and define, it can loosley be defined as respect.  Or wikipedia puts is as "to have mana is to have influence and authority, and efficacy – the power to perform in a given situation."  
People with mana are leaders, they are looked up to and followed.  Often you perceive this phenomenom when someone with mana enters the room, a conversation or a group.  People stop and listen and they also often 'obey' or fall into line. Sometimes people do these same things though not becase a person is respected or they have mana, but out of fear.  I personally see this as a sign of weakness, or a character flaw within the leader.  I believe leadership and mana is something that is earned.  It is not an automatic right, and if you have to force it then it isn't genuine.   I also think that the act of obeying someone or following them out of fear is so false and kinda makes you want to spew up. 
So my question is...Is mana earned or given???
Wikipedia also describes mana as "authority derived from having a wealth of resources to gift to others to bind them into reciprocal obligations". I would intererupt 'wealth of resources' not necessarily as money, but more about talents, gifts and character. By what you have, do you envoke people to believe, to cause them to want to follow, to hold power over them?  Could this type of mana also be influcence used in the wrong way?
I am intersted in this topic/situation as I ponder why it is that some poeple's 'voices' are louder than others, whether by force or by more intrinsic means.  The pecking order or food chain also seems alive and well within the human sphere and I think especially with men.
Take this children's book as an example...

What is with men's preoccupation of all things BIG?
It seems as though their minds are programmed with the adage 'the biggest man wins.'


What strikes me as character and something worth following, is a man (or woman) who is gracious enough to be a team player.  To step forward when he knows he/she has the goods to contribute, but step back when he/she knows someone else does.  That for me is mana, Ruth-defined!

Bigger is better?