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Joyful in Sorrow

While chatting she asked the question, ‘Can you be both sad and grateful at the same time?’.It’s been percolating on the back burner ever since. Can I be sad and grateful together? Can I be joyful in sorrow? They seem diametrically opposed, but are they? Once upon a time I would have said a definite […]

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Just in Time

Yep, we were definitely just in time! Just in time for our trip to Auckland to spend time with our kids before the country goes back into lockdown. Being grateful for things working out well… that hubby and I didn’t end up separated in different parts of the country, that we had this time together […]

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The Gardener

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust (1871 – 1922) French novelist I hear him say he’d like to have a vege garden one day, but I don’t think he considers himself a gardener at the moment. I smile […]

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Ho-say Who?

Ho-say Who?    Ideas are interesting things, they can strike at any moment and sometimes in the most inconvenient times.  If you capture the idea, sometimes that wild thought can lead you on a colourful and unexpected journey.  Writing children’s books has been that for me.  My first book, ‘Joyspring’s Song” came from an idea […]

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Lost Joy

They were all neatly stacked and in order, words piled up on words. There was LOVE and PEACE; HOPE was in its place. CAKE and DRINK side by side, but where was JOY? Sneaky word, it had jumped away when I wasn’t looking. It was there a minute ago, but now?  Where did JOY go? […]

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Pakira Marae Opening in Waitahanui

A special day was dawning so in the dark  we all gathered outside waiting to be welcomed in. The call went out and slowly the crowd moved through. We filed along with them expectant. Ipads and camera flashes illuminating the dark along with fire drums emitting both light and heat. The drone overhead capturing the […]

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#usksymposium From Afar

Instagram is full of them. It’s all over my Facebook. They’ve been on WGN news. And I gotta say that seeing these urban sketchers everyday, all day, is paying off and getting me all inspired. But, as beautiful as Chicago is, why go there when this place I call home is SO amazing?! It might […]

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Firstborn Mama Moments

It’s a long time since I held that precious bundle in my arms and we looked into each other’s eyes. There’s been a lot of water go under the bridge since then. Over the years there have been times when I have felt akin to Pooh Bear and his friends from 100 Acre Woods as […]

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Gr8ful

I am Gr8ful. Gr8ful for all the love I have been shown this week past. It started with a dinner date with my darling dearest just for two at our favourite restaurant. Plateau has been an absolute winner every time we have been there. Love the ambiance. Love the flavours. Love the company. Then the […]

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Skype and Sunsets

Walking the beach to clear my head between studying and painting all day and classes for the evening still looming. That lovely dog as keen as ever to accompany me. Dadada…dadadah Dadada…dadadah A skype call on my phone. My parents want a quick chat and then he notices the background. And I realise again how […]

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