This Week in Pictures:

Dan's retro radio. How suave.

Your name is written on the palm of His hand. And perhaps your undies.

Whittakers Kiwi Fruit Chocolate only ROCKS MY FACE OFF!


Be proud of that Maori Nose.


I have a "to do" list. Or five.



I love these old Photography books I bought from a Vintage Store. The old Kuia reminds me of my Great Nanny (she had a Moko too).

In a week I have managed to:

• Flood my house.
• Rack up a $92 dollar fine at the Video Store.
• Undercook Chicken.
• Find out our tenant not only is in jail and missed rent payments for 6 weeks, but they've left holes in walls, scribbles on walls, and ripped off our new wallpaper.
• Leave the Cat inside so he peed inside.
• Gotten frustrated at Cows for being slow. (So really, just for being Cows).

I can be a worrier at times but this week I know God has big blessings in store so I'm totally smiling like a lil creeper. WEEEE!!!

When life gives you lemons. Make lemonade. Then offer it to your neighbour.

:)

Brotherhood, Mirrors and Nakedness.

My brother recently became a Christian.

I have no words to express how joyful/greatful/emotional etc. this event has been for my Parents and myself as this event alone is a testimony that God is a prayer answering God.

I went to Australia to visit my brother in February as he'd hit some rough patches regarding just life in general, so I was hoping I could say something /offer something that would miraculously change him.
Yeah.
Apparently God didn't really wanna work that way.

Me: "Yes! I'm here to save the day",
God: "You have growing to do yourself",
Me: " I'm a hero, no autographs sorry",
God: "You're not the humblest person you know"
Me: "I should launch a line of "Betty" Merchandise while I'm at it",
God: "Don't make me pull out my lightening bolts".

(Obviously, the above conversation didn't really happen that way, but I do think God has an awesome and witty sense of humour, amazing half dinosaur half shark cars and most extravagant marshmallow and diamond treehouse mansions ever.)

I went over thinking it was HE that needed encouragement and advice but quickly found out that I apparently was the one on the recipients list.
Don't get me wrong, God used me while I was there. There is no doubt the majority of things that came out of my mouth were directly from Big Daddy, but I did not expect to be challenged, moved, encouraged and brought to my knees in the way I was.

Considering my brothers views toward God pre accepting Christ, I am in complete awe with how God turned this "Saul" character into a "Paul" character. (For his sake I'll spare the Saul details).

My brother has never been the academic.
He's the twenty seven year old man with the attention span of a four year old child.
He's the big half African American guy that looks like he'd beat people up in his spare time, but really..... he plays video games.
The loud one that always had to put "but" in when Mum growled him.
The one that ruins all movies by talking and telling you how it ends.
The one that gets you into trouble at School for making you laugh so hard at such inappropriate times.
The loudest one you know.
The most influential one you know.
The one with all the friends.
The one with the gift of making a stranger feel like a brother.
The one that befriends the homeless man.
The one that takes in the homeless man.
The one that is going into debt for the homeless man.
The one that brings 3 Taxi drivers to the Lord in one week.
The one that has absolutely no care for what others are saying about him behind his back at work, but tells them all he's praying for them.
The one that brings God up at any opportunity in any conversation.
The one that told his Boss who just informed him of being made redundant "God loves you". "I prayed He would give us this opportunity so I could tell you that, so that means He also answers prayer".
The one that goes up to the guy sitting at the bus stop, " Bro, God wanted me to meet you today. Do you realise that this very moment of us meeting he had planned before you were born?
Do you realise that he hears your cries and knows all the hurts you have been through in your life?
He wants you to come back to him today.
He has some plans for you that are going to change your life".

I am so inspired by my big brother.

He cried to me when we were talking on his couch.
He cried to me about how left out he felt when he walked into his Church.
Everyone had their own cliques.
Everyone looked at him no-one said "Hi".
Everyone left after Church together but without him.
He knew no-one and was desperate for a friend.
He was sad that this is how alot of Churches are.
He wasn't being judgemental.
He was talking from the heart. The truth.
I saw myself in those people.
I saw myself looking at the new person, the one seeking God, needing friends, needing to be discipled, needing answers.
I saw myself leaving after Church with my friends, perhaps offering a smile to that new person, then moving on to have lunch with my group.
I was ashamed at how a mirror exposed my reflection. At what I saw.
I was scared that it meant I had to change.
I was scared.
I was scared.
I was scared.

Why?

I'm the person that holds my cards up to my chest.
The one that wasn't good enough.
The one that was scared of what others might have thought.
The one that was decieved by the deciever.
The one that was naked.

"Who told you that you we're naked?" God asked me.
I could hear the hurt in His voice.
He'd asked this question before.
Many times through the years He must've asked this same question to Humanity.
"Who told you that you were naked?"
"Who told you that you weren't good enough?"
"Who told you that the opinion of others is above mine?"
"Who told you that you would never have children?"
"Who told you that you're ugly?"
"Who told you that you have to worry?"
"Who told you that I don't have you in my hands?"
"Who?"
"Who?"
"WHO!"

The answer is obvious. When you consider his role as a deceiver. He has played it well.
Consider your Creator.
Consider His Son.
Consider the price He paid.
Consider your brother.

T.I.L.T: Things I Love Thursday.

• The ten second rule.
• Getting the Cereal/Milk ratio just right.
• Vogel Bread.
• Getting a Truckie to beep their horn.
• Mini punch no returns.
• New sheets.
• Flies that die in the WEIRDEST and smallest places (ie. in the cordless phone cradle, I mean they have a whole desk to die on yet their focus in their last breath of life is making it to the phone cradle.
• Twisting off the stems of Apples.
• Imagining making "Betty's" line of cologne for that Manly Man:

-"Meat Pie" smell - for that Manly Man that would eat meat in any way, shape or form.
-"Grass Clippings" smell - for the DIY Man that cracks a sweat and a thirst.
-"Rain on Cement" smell - for the real Man that stands on the side of the road with "Stop" sign
-"New Book" smell - for the brainy Man that reads alot and earns major pingas.
-"H20" smell - for the health conscious Metro that would probably also carry a "Man Bag".
-"Burnt Matchsticks" smell - for the Pyromaniac in every Man.
I walked past a Man in the Supermarket last night, I swear he was wearing "Pure Gasoline". What a Manly Man that Man was.

• The Accordian.
• Piglets.
• Anchors.
• Free Hugs.
• Free Stuff.
• Joy Bar Icecreams.
• False eyelashes.
• Holding hands.
• Pistachio Nuts.
• Dresses.
• My now ancient Ipod.
• Poetry.
• Bobby wearing a Bib.

• Our Man couch.



• (Note the Whittakers Chocolate Bar. I'm gonna eat it today.)
  
• Second hand Books.
• Kissing in the rain awwww.
• A purring Cat in my lap.
• Payday!
• New shoes that don't squeak.
• An expert foot massage.
• Roasted Pumpkin.
• Dinosaurs.
• Paper dolls.
• Caravans.
• Mexican Wrestling Masks.
• Vintage Luggage.
• Arts and Crafts.
• Museums.
• Art Galleries.
• Street signs.
• Disco balls.
• Connect Four.
• Saying "Neh".
• Pirate ships.
• Fake Moustaches.
• Butterfly Magnets.
• Thermos's.
• Pez Dispensers.

• The Winter Show.


• Chalk on the sidewalk.
• My first pair of red Chuck Taylors when I was five and played Tiny Tot Hockey.
• Salvation Mountain (look it up).
• Step on a crack you'll marry a rat.
• Freckle fart from K-Mart.
• Eclipse Mints.
• Hearing Parents say "it's all the rage".
• Autumn!!!! Autumn!!!! Autumn!!!
• Did I mention Autumn?
• Sunrises.
• Sunsets.
• Shiny things.
• Lift Plus.
• Pineapple Lumps.
• I CANNOT wait for Burgerfuel to hit our crazy ghost town.
• Eating Icecream with a teaspoon.

Yakkity Yaks Between Me and He:

(CONTEXT: Conversation about working out our Love Languages).

He: "So what's it called when you like receiving gifts but not giving them?

Me: Being selfish.

T.I.L.T: Things I Love Thursday.

♥ Dan wiping up his crumbs

♥ Heart Lollipops

♥ Flowers in my hair

♥ Yum Shower Gel

♥ The Body Shop

♥ Hazelnut Body Butter

♥ When my Baking doesn't burn

♥ Ginger Beer

♥ Dan's fake Italian accent

♥ A clean house

♥ A good thick Coffee Mug

♥ Tree climbing

♥ Walking round Auckland with headphones on

♥ Juicy Peaches

♥ Swimming in the River

♥ Bear Grylls of Man Vs. Wild eating a giant bug. What a Champ.

♥ Corn on the Cob

♥ Massages

♥ Glitter

♥ Reciting all the lines to Titanic - I'm sucha geek

♥ Cooking and not having to clean up

♥ HOT Showers

♥ Dusting off the heater for cooler weather

♥ Shimmer

♥ Minus 5 Ice Lounge, man this was so cool. We went to the one in Queenstown back in 2006. It's a Bar where everything is made of ice, the bar, the walls, the seats, the sculptures and even your GLASS! they serve the yummiest Mocktails (non-alcoholic Cocktails) and all ranges of Cocktails. They completely kit you out in Eskimo-like Ice gear: Hat, Gloves, Jacket, Sheepskin lined boots, etc. An awesome experience.

♥ Raspberry Licorice

♥ SMORES mmm

♥ The smell of Pine Forests at night

♥ Knowing my TV remote so well I don't need to look at the buttons (kinda sad actually)

♥ Getting the armrest at the Movies

♥ GOLD CINEMA EXPERIENCE!

♥ The one good pen that never gets lost

♥ Building huts with sheets.... I still do it

♥ Piggy backs

♥ Someone landing on my Hotel in Monopoly

♥ Old school video games: Atari, Sega Mastersystem, Mega Drive (I love Alex the Kidd)

♥ Bakery air

♥ Using Rock, Scissors, Paper to settle anything

♥ The Movie "Big": Shimmy shimmy cocopop shimmy shimmy rock

♥ Travel souvenirs

♥ Toy stores, especially that one in "The Strand"

♥ Talking like a Pirate

♥ Watching my Husband help drive a car off a cliff

♥ Track pants

♥ Street Performers

♥ New Haircuts

♥ Fry Bread

♥ Fireplaces

♥ Marbles

♥ G.I Joes

♥ Slapbands

♥ Jem on DVD

♥ Letters via snail mail

♥ Mythbusters

♥ Themed Parties

♥ My nicely aged Salvation Army "Songs selected for use in Home League Meetings" book

♥ Treehouses

♥ Rainbows and remembering the promise behind them

♥ Obama vowing to fight pirates. Pirates out there had better be shivering their timbers.

♥ Muppets riding bikes

♥ Good hair days (GHD)

♥ Paperplanes

♥ Remembering how to make Paper Cranes

♥ Extreme Makeover Home Edition

♥ The lonely Horse down the road

♥ Love. Faith. Hope.

How:

How Metrosexual is your Worship Leader?
Courtesy of an email sent to me by Jess Chambers, areas of it edited into my own liking.

1. Has a faux hawk hair style = +12.
2. Has more product in his hair than your wife = +13.
3. Has Rob Bell, black rimmed glasses = +14.
4. They are not prescription, but just for effect = +25.
5. Attends the Hillsong Conference = +36.
6. Performs at the Hillsong Conference = +107.
7. Owns , Chuck Taylor, Puma, Vans or Diesel sneakers = +2 per each pair.
8. Wears jeans on stage = +19.
9. Wears designer jeans on stage = +210.
10. Wears Wrangler or Rustler jeans on stage = -311.
11. Has a goatee = +212.
12. Wears one of those Castro revolution looking hats = +213.
13. Drinks coffee on stage = +114.
14. Drinks some kind of coffee you did not know existed = +215.
15. Brings a French Press on stage and makes his own coffee during service = +516.
16. Has a handlebar mustache = -317.
17. Good at Frisbee but hates getting all "sweaty" = +118.
18. Has a haircut that covers one of his eyes while singing = +119.
19. Owns a white belt = +220.
20. Owns suspenders = -321.
21. Wears a scarf with a t-shirt = +122.
22. Wears a winter knit hat even in the summer = +223.
23. You think he covered a My Chemical Romance song last week = +324.
24. Drives an Audi or VW, silver of course = +225.
25. Uses the words, "postmodern, relevant" or "emergent" nonstop = +226.
26. Cringes a little when people say the "H word." (Hymnal) = +327.
27. Has ever said some form of the phrase, "That song is so 1990s" = +128.
28. Owns a Grizzly Adams red and black flannel shirt = -229.
29. Named his kid after a color or a number = +230.
30. References Norwegian punk bands you've never heard of = +231.
31. Wears a tie = -132.
32. Wears a tie as a belt = +233.
33. Looks as if he might exfoliate = +234.
34. Has a man bag or European Carry All = +235.
35. Brings bag on stage with him = +236.
36. Has a tattoo = +237.
37. Has a visible tattoo = +438.
38. Wife accompanies him on stage and plays tambourine = -439.
39. Was formerly in a punk new wave band = +240.
40. Knows the names of all the people on the scripted MTV show, "the Hills" = +341.
41. Refuses to drink anything but Vitamin Water = +242.
42. Your wife ever says, "he needs a barrette for his hair." = +243.
43. Has a nickname with "the" in it, as in "the edge," = +244.
44. Owns every Nooma video = +245.
45. Has a soul patch = +346.
46. Won't play barefoot on stage until he gets a pedicure = +247.
47. Owns a pair of lady jeans = +250.
48. Twitters you from his iPhone = +251.
49. His toddler dresses cooler than you = +252.
50. He wears graphic t-shirts over button down, long sleeve shirts = +253.
51. Ever says "we got a hot mic here" = -454.
52. Shops at the Warehouse = -55.
53. Shops at Hallensteins = +2.
54. Shops at Blue Revolution = +20.
55. Shops at Diesel = +100.
    
    
    

OFFICIAL SCORE SHEET:

0 - 10 points = Hymnal Hero.

You my friend are what is known in the industry as a "Hymnal Hero." You're not metro in the least bit. You don't like fruit flavoured chapstick and think that songs that were written in this century, or the last one for that matter, are "too new." If married, your wife tries to get you to wear hip jeans but you're not into it. When my hymnal cologne comes out, you will buy a case.

11 - 20 points = Tomlin Curious.

Oh, well hello there, you're Tomlin Curious. I am of course referring to Chris Tomlin, one of the founding fathers of metrosexual worship leading. You're currently dipping a toe, pedicured even, into the idea of all of this. You were probably a former hairdresser and still rock the occasional hymn. Recently you saw a wide leather bracelet in a shop and thought about getting it. When you sleep at night you can hear voices calling you, "come style your hair, come frost your tips".

21 - 40 points = Goatee Guy.

Right now, you're wearing Pumas and drinking a coffee that has fourteen words in its name. You've gone over to the Salmon side. (This is the side where instead of saying "pink" you say things are "salmon" or "melon" or "coral.") You rarely play a hymn and style yourself after Jeremy Camp. For breakfast you had something with "wheat grass" in it.

41 - 60 points = Girl Jeans Gambler.

You're thinking about it. I mean you're not ready to do the guyliner thing, but when you shop for clothes you get a little tempted. You've never sung a hymn and think Chris Tomlin is "too traditional."

61+ points = The Joel.

You are Joel Houston of Hillsong United. Not only does he have a tattoo on his right arm, hangs out with creative types like photographers and poets a lot, he's funny and can bust out an instant, "I'm a serious rockstar worship leader" face on cue. He's got that "Kings of Leon" smelly but clean look and is the David Beckham of Metrosexual Worship Leaders. If you manage to reach this level then you are on another planet my friend, the Joel planet.

The Yakkity Yaks Between Me And He:

Me: "This is awesome! wonder how much it is?"
He: "Honey, we're at the Two Dollar Shop".
Me: "Dont' judge me."

When was the last time...

You went on a Picnic?

I'm a suck-uh for Love *sigh* and recently got tired of hinting to my Husband (Dan aka Diesel) a few hundred times that "Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage, go together like a Horse and Carriage", or in other words that we were about due for a surprise spontaneous date.

I decided to take things into my own hands and load up my 3 favourite boys:

1. The Married fulla that shares my world,
2. Hone the girly boy man mutt,
3. Buck doggy dogg,

into our Mysterious Utility (or Pigpen as I refer to it) and made the wheels on the truck go round and round to a secluded part of our farm that sits next to a happy little lake.

WHAT I WORE:

• Hat - Nanas.
• Nighty worn as a dress - Vintage.
• Green cocktail ring - Sportsgirl.
• Turqoise belt worn as a cuff.
• Nail polish - Coral, OPI.
• Gumboots.

STUFF I PACKED:

• Fruit.
• Curried Eggs.
• A variety of cold Meats.
• An array of Crackers, Cheeses, Breads.
• Homemade Cupcakes and Muffins.
• Cadbury Creme Egg Minis.
• Sparkling Grape Juice.
• Skipbo Card Game.
• Retro Basket.
• Blanket.

Ahhhh... it was sucha rad little trip.

WHAT I'VE LEARNT:

• Picnic's deserve a good plan ahead.
• Next time take bug repellent.
• Next time take big comfy pillows.
• Next time take face masks. Just because.
• It's hilarious watching a fat "Seal" look-a-like Dog get a shock on an electric fence.
• Like "Hard Drive" put it, "Everybody (everybody) needs somebody to looove (doo wop doo wop ba da da dup doo wop).

Your turn now. Picnic it up. Take photos. Love. Laugh. Create Memories. Thank God for your time on Earth.

Introducing T.I.L.T: Things I love Thursday.

• "Days with my Father" - is very beautiful; click all the way through.
• Gorgeous smelling candles alight during a spontaneous quiet time in the middle of the night.
• CUPCAKES!
• Writing in a fresh journal with sharp 2B pencils *drool*.
• Cracking my toes.
• Finding hidden soppy messages written from my husband littered throughout the house... Nawww Mush.
• Going to Weddings *sigh* so romantic. It doesn't matter whose Wedding, I'd be that creepy guest no-one knows sitting in the back row giving the first hug to the bride and groom. Actually I just got back from my Husbands Nephews Wedding (Nephew being one year younger than Husband... yeah work that one out...), and being Autumn with the ceremony under Oak Trees, you can imagine how magical it all was. They even washed each others feet.

• Catching the smell of Laundry on the breeze while outside getting the mail.
• Miniature horsey on the loose!
• Spending time with really great, strong, hilarious women.
• Cadbury Creme Eggs.
• A full moon and still sky.
• Vintage store adventures.
• Old Hymns.
• Peppermint Tea.
• Taking photos of all the weird positions my Cat sleeps in.
• Making up my own words to songs to include the names of my animals and how Maori they all are.
• Guitar Hero!!!
• Manners/Charm.
• Modulating songs and singing them double time.
• Trampolines and Hulahoops.
• Helium Balloons.
• Glowsticks and sparklers.
• Getting a bag of all the old lollies I ate as a kid.
• Bubbles.
• Watching whole seasons of "LOST" at a time.
• Originality not clones.
• The Circus.
• Stacked bangles: new textures, materials.
• Education: You can teach an old dog new tricks.
• Summer Festivals.
• Shopping trips and having self control.
• Nature.
• TREES!
• BREEZE!
• The thriller dance.
• Parcels in the Post.
• Hardwork acknowledged.
• Knowing how to dress your body shape.
• Lipstick on a Pig.
• Powernaps.
• My Pastors same old stories. I never get sick of.
• Competitions with my Husband to see who can remember the most words to Spice Girl songs. He'll never admit that.
• New Shampoo flavours.
• Bed Jumping.
• Pretending to be a car while walking through town.
• Leather, studs and sequins.
• Pink.
• Love letters.
• Kites.
• Skipping.
• The first sip of a coke on a hot day.
• Hot chocolate and marshmallows on a cold day.
• Freshly painted nails.
• New makeup.
• Fashion and decor of the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 70's.
• Watching too much "Who's Line Is It Anyway?".
• Arthurs Emporium.
• Finding out my Wrestling Name and using it when attempting to bodyslam my Husband.
• Nerding it up at the Library and coming out with an armful of books.
• Coffee in Russell with my special pregnant girlfriend ;)
• Blow kisses.
• Windchimes.
• Postcards.
• Fingerless gloves.
• Polaroid photos.
• Icing.
• Turquoise.
• Scarves.
• Floaty dresses.
• Pearls.
• Merry go rounds.
• Butterflies.
• Generosity.
• Sushi.
• Cocktail rings.
• Clouds.
• The God of Miracles.
• The Husband of me.