some recent pics of issy and me

isaac and i dealing with being apart for a glorious 3 1/2 months




together!!!

the silence is over...

yes, thats right, i am blogging again! I finally feel that i have something to say...much has happened....although most of you are aware thati will be marrying Isaac Morton on June 16th....i also just found out that this is Sheri McConell's birthaday! what an honor...

as i was showering this morning, i began to think about this funny pizza delivery man named Dudley...he delivered my pizza 2 nights ago, and i used to work with him at cafe 22...hes in his 40's and has been delivering pizza for i think 20 years or so...anyways he rambles incessently and began talking about global warming....he said that we have around 50-100 years before its a ll over....

well,i am not sure how acurate those figures are, but either way its a frightening thought...as i was showering i added 50 years onto my present age...of course i rounded it up to 30...so in fifty more years i would be 80...i was flooded with the reality of my possible death at the age of 80. i hope, that with a heatlhy lifestyle i could live beyond this...but it made me understand why 45 year old men/women, rush out and try to live the fastest, youngest life they can, faced with the reality that they too could die soon. its a big thought...one life, one chance. it made me very somber...and i asked myself, am i living my life as i truly desire....will i regret my decisions?

suddenly i felt an overwhelming urge to love God as best as i can, to live a full and good life and to no longer let fear prevent me from doing the things i love. in many areas...fear holds me back from succeeding...a word used loosely as success to me equates being true to your heart....i realize that this is idealistic, but at the same time it really challenged me to move forward with my dreams and not to settle for an average life (average to me) for the sake of comfort and ease....

i really want to explore and live. there is so much i want to see and do...i realize that all of this requires stuggle and risk, but for some reason i was all the more excited to undertake that reality...in exchange for a possible life with no bounds....

so what do i love, what do i dream for, what is realistic (hee hee)

i will ponder this today....

and start tommorow...(lets hope)

home

hey kids i'm in the peg at last!

yahahahahahhayahahahah!!!

please call me on my old cell number and i will hook up with all of you in time...

cam...i'll see you saturday..

love you

in reply....

YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!

Cam I would love to have a sweet pub nite to catch up.....coffee would be fine as well...i will be getting in at 1:39 on July 25th.....

Awwww Tony....i can't wait to see you dude...seriously...i wish you could have been here to experience the rugby soccer maddness that has been happening...if sjayla thinks you are a tool for skipping class...she would'nt beleive what happens here...the whole freakin country shuts down!

no joel...the boy can't come...hes finishing school...but...he will come over soon...than we can all torment him because hes a kiwi in canada....hahahah finally he can see what it feels like! (was that evil???)

and.....

this is hilarious...

we had a HUGE snow storm in the south island the past month...in fact it was so devastating that all the roads were closed adn the major cities without power for up to 10 days!!! the amount of snow you ask...

around two feet or soo...isn't that ridiculous! the proud winnipeg survivor surely kicked in at this point....i walk to work without shoes in minus 40 and uphill both ways!! sorry new zealand...thats lame.
laughed till it hurt....thought you would appreciate that:)

ok...does anyone want to pick me up from the airport? i still need to find a ride!

i can't wait to see you all my precious's.......gollum...gollum...

time to come home

Hey guys...

it has been awhile...again:)

i had a fabulous trip down to the South island with Isaac....only a few hitches..ok, a lot but thats a story for later...it turned out to be a pretty ghetto trip...lots of time spent sleeping uncomfortably in the back of cars and stuff like that.
the scenery was incredible. Unfortunately, my camera broke...can you beleive it!! no pictures...i was sooo bummed....i did some video taping though...you can be sure to look forward to hours of boring video photage with me rambling on about hobbits, isaac snikering and footage of trees rushing by...obscuring the oh so beautiful scenery.

i did...get close to some of the lord of te Rings locations. the sets are no longer there so it was a bit of a bummer...but seriously folks the landscape is incredible!

guess what everyone.....

i'm coming home!!

thats right...on July 24th at 1:39pm i will be landing in winnipeg.....cool huh?!

i decided i was very very broke and it was time to save soem serious pesos.

and i missed everyone like crazy....!

soooooo

i can't wait to see you....

can't wait...

i don't have much more to say except that i will be kken for a pint and some catch up with you all...well...the ones in the country anyway...

hey kids

hey guys...

i'm back from the dead....well......lets see..

i have been up to lots of stuff....Seriously i am doing great and learning lots and lots and lots...

First off...

Isaac and i are heading down to the south island for a 3 week roadtrip...it will be super fun and i can't wait...yes..yes..we will see al the lord of the rings sets..(much to Isaac's dismay i will be dragging him to it...hahahah)and the south just got a blizzard so we will be jumping into lots of snow! the jealousy is now reversed as i want to be in the peg chillin in the sun...but noooo...i am in new zealand where they drive on the wrong side of the road, eat fish and chips for breakfast and are 'keen' to do everything...

not a fair whine...ok, i take it back...hahah..

sooo, this leads to the next adventure. i basically lost most of the hours at my jobs because it is now winter and business is terribly slow....and as par normal i am broke and trying to think of clever ways to save money...plus i am heading to the south and need to pay for gas....impending pressure is on!

so i went all over town looking for a job....i got a 2 week stint bartending at 'lattiude' a posh bar in the downtown where i get to fake laugh and say...oh stop it you..to the rich 50 year old man who is hititng on me.....a job at beaches...the worst cafe ever where they work you like a dog and then say ' um..barb...i think you might need to repolish those tables...i see a spot..." ahhhhhhh!!!! and finally a job at the dairy up my road...no, not a cow farm but an equivalent to our 7-eleven with a fish and chip takeaway section....this job ruled..basically...i stand there...eat chips, and read magazines....the boss is a sweet dude who explained my job like this:"basically...if a good song comes on the radio...turn it up...if a bad song comes on....turn it off...(insert bellow laugh)" isn't that hilarious! i love that job..its either construction workers or little kids...its the best.

i am only working 3 days each at all these jobs so its quite funny. i have been in a super good mood for quite some time.

Isaac and i are good...relationships are hard work and super lovely.....isaac is patient and always fun...i am a bit of a maniac so hes nearing sainthood any moment now. we are super pumped to hit the south...i for the lord of the rings..he for snowboarding...he has never driven in snow and i can't drive standard...sooo...please pray for us....winnipeg can't help out this time...

also i have been learning lots about my state of mind...i have been seeing a counselor which is helping heaps...please pray for me guys...its really hard but super beneficial. i feel like i am coming back into the woman i always was, apart from all the maddness and expectations that swirl around me. i really want to be free of this stuff and rooted in God once again. i am learning to trust and to relax a bit. it has created lots of upheaval in certain areas of my life, so pray i don't abandon it as i know it will be good at the end. i am really strapped for money and want to jet home but really feel i need to see this emotional/spiritual fight out for a bit longer. i feel on the precipice and don't want to go. i really need your prayer support if thats cool. its something i can't do by myself.

hmmmm...aside from that, i miss you all as usual...

just so you don't feel left out of my lord of the rings adventure...(hhha i'm such an jerk)

i have included some kiwi lingo to practise at home...

keen- to be excited or ready...ie) hey matt, do you want to go to the lord of the rings sets...matt: yea...i'm keen.

heaps- in place of lots....ie) i have heaps of debt, heaps of jobs, heaps of things to do.

choice-really good...ie) that coffee is choice! tony is choice...or just...choice as a response to something you like..

gutted-very bad feeling...ie) i am gutted that i missed that its warm in winnipeg and i am frezzing my little butt off because we don't have central heating...or just gutted.

missus- girlfriend (i was introduced so much as the missus i'm not sure if anyone knows my real name)

kia ora- hello, thank you

yawn- to talk to someone..ie) i had a yawn with jac for awhile

hoon- mootch...can i have a hoon on those fries.

lollies-candy

capsicum-peppers

yah dirty-you jerk

how you going-hows it giong

and the list goes on....

it is freezing so please send scarves and toques and mitties...

love you

the boy and life in general

ok..ok..ok!!! here is the freakin pictures you all have been asking after...I couldn't develop fast enough for ya...hope you like them...i included some shots of him with his band cause thats a big part of his life...besides me and God and all that stuff..

sooooo...i am well...really well...it has been a hard couple of weeks...learning a lot about myself and all the things that have been weighing me down.. i am learning to rest...and face fear, and get over having to be 'something' apart from what i am...honestly..i am seriously coming back to a good place with Christ. I realized that so many expectations surround me...my own high standards for my life, and those which were unconsiously placed on me by others...this would lead to my feeling the need to have to perform or live up to an exhausting standard. i know God brought me here to gain some perspective and to gain some health in order to not work myself into the ground..

there have also been a lot of signs pointing to my absolute need to begin creating art...calling myself an artist and making it a priority...Isaac and i went down to wellington for my birthday..(which was sweet) and on our hitchhike back..we were picked up by none other than a woman who was an actress/photographer/ppoet/and film worker..who was convinietly heading straight to the mount (where i live).which is seriously 7 hours north...crazy? yep.

we drove all the way home with her and she basically counselled and exhorted me to make a lot of art! hahha it was random and a moment where God got me at my own game...i was stunned and honored.

isaac and i are good...we hit a rough patch as i was going crazy dealing with my over analytical mind and trying to find ways to get out as it scared me to truly have met someone genuine who really loves me. its amazing and after wrestling with my own fears i have come to a sweet place where i am overwhelmed by the gift of him in my life..he truly is a lovey man and i am so grateful for him...i am a lucky girl...a lucky girl.

on a lighter note....guess whati did for my birthday.....Matt...Cam....Ren...

I WENT TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS EXHIBIT!!!!

oh yeah....

it was INCREDIBLE...

i got to see the sets, models, costumes, and storyboards.....it was wicked, i nerded out entirely and Isaac saw my true nature...and the whole time i kept thinking..'i can't wait to tell the guys.....they will be soooooo jealous...'

so there...i told you.....yep:)

aside from that i am chillin in the mount till the middle of June...then heading to the south island for 3 weeks....then over to aussie landfor a brief stint...i am trying to sort out whats next but i may be home the end of august...sweet hey:)

i miss you guys and love you...see cam...i took your advice and updated my blog.....(smile)

i even got to touch treebeard....sigh....



Here he is....my handsome isaac:) and me of course...


ok...this is more like it....


another pic....


heres isaac with his band brick vs face..i know that sounds silly....hardcore man...hardcore...hes in red


another band shot


group band shot...isaacs in grey...thumb up...

Oi kids....i return...

wow...its been some time....

a lot has happened..i am well, adjusted and chilling right out...i still work at 2 crappy jobs and walk to the beach when i can....i am eating fresh fruit off of trees and am finding myself saying 'yah bro' more than i wish...

kiwiland is beautiful and i am content..


sooooo, i have been distracted...i met a sweet kiwi lad and have been dating him for a month..that would explain the lack od communication for a month...there does that ket me off the hook! i have no pics right now but will post some later..his mname is isaac and he is a lovely assortment of talent, quirk and fun. he loves Jesus and loves me....i will write more in time, just know hes a keeper and i am very happy..

i have gone on some missions..treks up to the natural hotsprings and hiking into the greenest bush you have ever seen...i definately want to be a hobbit here....there are so many cool caves to burrow in...

i am moving to Auckland city for a bit in june..i have met some great friends and want some time to really get creative...the city offers a lot more accessabilty so it will be easier to make an art dungeon there...

as well i am heading into the south island for july...july is NZ's winter so i will have to wear my mitts as its a whopping minus 2 or 3! so ridiculous....i tell you...

i will write more info at a later blog...i have been uploading pics for an hour and am over it!

here are some pics...

i will post more...

i love you guys and miss you tonnes....you all are the best and i hope you know it!


Auckland...


beautiful dancer....


yeah bro!!!


I found an amazing graffiti wall in auckland....choice!


More of the wall


A sweet couple at a summer festival...note the bare feet....no one wears shoes in this country


Typical Maori Tattoos...


the motor inn close to my flat


This ones for Tony...the best old man ever at an auckland street festival


me yo!


More sweet grafitti


I like this metaphor...the natural surviving in the urban...


The infamous Puc......my other roomate


Bahahaahahahah!!!


Our crazy friend lex!


Lord of the Rings anyone?


What a sweet climbing tree!!


The beautiful beach


You can see how green New Zealand is.


warm sand.....yummy


This is the Mount which is central to the town...it adjoinns the beach and is fun to hike..


Here is Jacs and I happy after a long hard day of beaching...