Another Year stretches before us. . .

Alright then, come on out here and join me in the sun on my porch, among my potplants, and the butterflies, and let's talk about 2006 and what our hopes and dreams are for that year.
Can you feel the sun on your back? Step into the shade of my sunsail, and I'll make a cup of tea.

I'm off to Lake Rotoiti next week, and away from Auckland for a while, oh joy! Always at this time I think of what the coming year will bring - most of it completely unexpected and unplanned, and some of it downright painful no doubt, but along with those moments are frequent bursts of joy and pleasant surprises.
Where would we be without Faith, Hope and Love? Unable to take another step. And those nice sounding words come in reality packaged (if it's even possible to consider him like that) in the person of Christ. I thank God that although life is unpredictable I have a rock upon whom I can stand, and who has proven unshakeable and WORTH IT. Oh to know Him better.

Christmas DAY at last

Here's Helen's verandah with the family sitting around the table, and the food about to be devoured. Ho ho ho.

I have nothing to say, I'm that FULL. I just want to go and see yet another Christmas rerun on the TV. But here was some glimpse of Christmas BEFORE y'all in the States were even up.
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas.

Sisters in the church Christmas Supper

Such as it is, here is our evening gathering on Monday last. . . I really WAS having a good time, despite my expression. Sigh. Hey, we were tired, I had eaten too much, and it was a hot evening. Merry Christmas!

More of those Christmas BBQ photos

Here's one half of the room, with Trace, Helen, Linda, John, Bev and Gord standing there. It's about 7.30pm so still quite light.
Here's the other half of the room, with Gord, Naomi, Caro and Cath, the boys were outside by the BBQ (typical) and the teenagers hanging around the fringes.

Here's beloved Cath, resting her neck on Gordy's shoulder, as Rach, Linda and Michael chat in the background.
What a great night. GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!

Christmas BBQ last night

Okay, this is Angel 1 and Angel 2, who seperately bought costumes for the BBQ and found that we both revert to our childhoods at such occasions, and I am once again Fairy 1 and Helen is Fairy 2. At least I chose the halo! Had a lovely BBQ with friends last night. All the old faces there and we managed to bring out instruments and play carols while a small group sang. I'm sure the neighbours were thrilled.
I need to go and make some of these photos smaller, so they fit. Meanwhile, these are the ones already adjusted. Enjoy

THE News article in the Western Leader

Well, yes, that goofy grin is really me. Gulp. The lens was mere centimetres from my face and HUGE. Sigh. But hey, the pride is lighting up the whole room and the picture, and as they say: "Every dog has its day" - I think that that was mine. Hee hee.
I don't know if you are able to read the words under the article by copying and zooming in, but perhaps it's just as well.
This was published in a HUGE publication called The Western Leader, with a mindboggling readership, and on PAGE THREE. I'm finally a page 3 girl.
Well, that's it. It's over. Now there's only Christmas.

Way way way back

I realise I've just got to get past Mr Darcy - even I'm tired of seeing that blog every time I open up. So here's another. Dad sent it to me a short while ago. It is the four of we kids back in the days when colour photography had just kicked in, hee hee. I'm the second eldest so the burden of that responsibility is just kicking in. .. my older brother never has taken that as seriously as he should, judging by his goofy grin.
I've just been sick on the front of that nice matching dress, because this is taken in Perth, visiting my grandparents, and that flight was turbulent and circled the airport coming in. NICE. Maybe that's why the expression. My youngest brother appears to have caught a whiff of it too.
Anyway, the day calls, I must away.
"I meant to do my work today
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree
and a butterfly flitted over plain
and all the leaves were calling me
And the wind went sighing over the land
tossing the grasses to and fro
and a rainbow held out its shining hand
so what could I do but laugh and go"

Mr Darcy and I! Settle down!!!

Okay, I may not have the REAL thing, but I do have the best two-dimensional image. Sigh. Here I am with Mr Darcy, in my bedroom. Helen has one too. It pays to put your name down at the movie theatre for one of the posters. Sigh. Don't you wish you had one too?!!!!