tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210912762024-10-07T18:47:37.253+13:00My life journey, thoughts & other random stuff!Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-1353070856999438932020-08-17T19:09:00.007+12:002020-08-17T19:53:50.145+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-16040158930231089242020-04-30T16:25:00.000+12:002020-04-30T16:25:32.497+12:00

Well its been quite a few years since I have done a blog post - but I feel as though I have a lot to say & need a place to say it... So here goes... The rumbling is not my tummy, the rumbling is a disquiet of what is being feed to us by the media & government, and for some reason everyone is buying it hook line and sinker without questioning anything & those who even vaguely

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-48598939098140870312015-09-17T20:41:00.002+12:002015-09-17T20:41:46.571+12:00

Halfway through our 12 week challenge! It has been quite a lot harder this week as I still have this nasty flu/cough and haven't really had the energy to do anything! I have been meaning to try a few new recipes (but don't really feel game for the inevitable FAIL before the try again & hopeful win!) & also to make our own hummus, mayo & ketchup supplies but to no avail.

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-16415194862168414042015-09-07T23:06:00.003+12:002015-09-07T23:06:34.286+12:00

I wasn't even sure if I would make it this far - but we have & I am amazed - but also more determined to keep going! I have now lost between 6-7kg & that helps to spur me on.  I also feel better (although I have just been sick!) in that I am not so tired & I also think my teeth are whiter! Random - but I suppose that has to do with the sugar (or lack of it).    RECIPE

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-60203885219148423982015-09-02T20:36:00.001+12:002015-09-02T20:36:35.849+12:00

Wow - Phase 1 done & dusted! It went fast  The first 10 days were definitely the hardest & now it seems we are in the swing of things.  Potato eating on the weekend wasn't that exciting! We were at a conference for the weekend, so I think we managed pretty well with very minimal (unavoidable) cheating.  I have lost about 1kg this week, and now its about a total of

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-21456688572715675552015-08-25T21:03:00.000+12:002015-08-25T21:03:15.680+12:00

I can't believe we have completed week 3 & into our 4th week - the last one in Phase One - next week I can eat potatoes :-) So this week has consisted of probably an equal amount of wins & fails in the kitchen - so that's mor encouraging than last week! I have only lost about 1kg this week, but at least it is still going down.  I think we are starting to enjoy more and more now the

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-6068218275819416552015-08-17T21:28:00.000+12:002015-08-17T21:28:01.614+12:00

Our first week was rather boring & consisted of following the diet prescribed menu without much creativity - getting my head around it & surviving with a weight loss of about 4kg! YAY Week two - found me getting a bit bored with the same old, so started to experiment with some new recipes.  Some were disasters - others I have improved on, and some have been ok.  So to start

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-25492346013609997662015-08-17T20:21:00.001+12:002015-08-17T20:21:54.850+12:00

2 years since I last posted - I wonder if that has any coincidence with the fact that I started a business and no longer have much free time on my hands! Within the last year I have certainly not felt any urge to write at all.  Starting this time last year was a string of events that have really taken its toll & affected our lives quite a bit. To start, our church had a rather

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-83413100907644838252013-08-15T21:43:00.002+12:002013-08-15T21:43:37.953+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-17017287412729935722013-08-10T11:45:00.001+12:002013-08-10T11:45:21.820+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-64937052035419204862013-08-01T02:25:00.003+12:002013-08-12T16:20:08.811+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-42274252650822502862013-06-25T11:23:00.000+12:002013-06-25T11:47:15.704+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-38180860098835192802013-06-20T15:33:00.001+12:002013-06-20T15:35:30.095+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-65454830730549506092013-06-16T14:16:00.006+12:002013-06-16T14:25:36.103+12:00

Another lot of random links coming your way. With cleaning out my closet & selling extra stuff around the house, it seems to have a "de-clutter" theme this week! 1.  Living with less Getting more stuff means you need more stuff & more problems -- this guy learnt this in an interesting way! 2.  Getting rid of 6 things Keeping on this same topic, this article has some

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-84317342416712575982013-06-14T15:50:00.002+12:002013-06-14T15:50:38.304+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-42220427388088332242013-06-13T13:18:00.000+12:002013-06-13T13:23:43.422+12:00

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 &

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-54736947917847827982013-06-07T21:22:00.000+12:002013-06-07T21:22:09.446+12:00

1.  Was interested in reading this column in our local paper this week -- the breakfast (or food in schools) debate has me in two minds & I thought this guy addressed it well.  It also got me thinking about maybe re-training as a social worker...I know I think about re-training as something every year but ya never know... 2.  I have spent a bit of time working on the

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-76171562403734525422013-06-05T14:30:00.000+12:002013-06-06T09:46:52.882+12:00

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

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-25797388152556549892013-05-30T15:02:00.003+12:002013-06-05T13:39:50.563+12:00

Preparing for camp, camp & the aftermath of camp! Plus a visit from the Deacons over Easter. Gabriella started sleeping in her own bed for both day & night time sleeps.  She has started solids, and is now down to only 2 & a half  sleeps during the day time. She can pretty much sit up by herself, although the rolling isn't really established.  She is talking &

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-46849047412091101942013-05-30T13:33:00.000+12:002013-05-30T14:06:56.681+12:00

Well with our last camp done & dusted, my  "to-do list" has definitely dwindled down to just stuff that is on there but I don't really want or is pressing to do! So with the weather getting colder, the fire more frequent I think its time I selected some more hobbies to keep me from getting bored & annoying the whole world! (O and also spending money online shopping!) So I think I

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-74804131556406972862013-02-28T15:23:00.000+13:002013-05-30T14:07:46.587+12:00

By now we had established a pretty good routine.  Gabriella was sleeping through the night mostly & I kinda had an idea of what to expect.  She was wanting to play with toys & even started "talking." We enjoyed a trip to Oponoui for our family reunion & lots of catching up around home.

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-82988275580274477772013-01-28T15:20:00.000+13:002013-05-30T14:08:35.100+12:00

This began on a trip to Auckland for Xmas with my family & then on to Taupo to be with the MCDougalls & the Deacons, then via Tauranga & back home.  We also went to camp for a week, and had a weekend away in Taupo Bay.  A great busy summer :-)

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-25071251014266725102012-12-28T14:52:00.000+13:002013-05-30T14:08:16.039+12:00

It was good to be home.  We had lots of visitors, recovered pretty well from the ordeal in hospital.  Still had numbness around my hips.  It was a great time just hanging out with baby & Jon was home a lot from work too.

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-20055472398427317692012-12-18T17:28:00.000+13:002013-05-30T13:19:35.751+12:00

Once reunited with Jay & meeting baby for the first time the feelings were unbelievable!  The drugs were still wearing off -- or should I say still kicking in and things seemed all very strange & surreal.  It was amazing to hold Gabriella for the first time & the disconnect between the labour & her birth in my brain was kinda weird.  Even now it is hard to relate

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21091276.post-478964686923312302012-12-06T18:22:00.001+13:002012-12-06T18:26:03.259+13:00

Well we left Kaitaia on Monday about 2:30pm, with the house clean & tidy.  Once we got to Whangarei we killed a bit of time shopping, walking in the park & having 'the last supper.' I chose to go to a Italian restaurant & enjoyed pizza, wedges & salad.  Little did I know it was going to be the best meal I had in a week! We arrived at the hospital & was admitted to

Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0