Trying to Breathe




Celebrating My Father

It's been an interesting weekend for us all here in New Zealand. I come from Christchurch, and my family and friends are still there. So this weekend my mind has been a little overloaded, as has our phone line! It doesn't feel like much of a day to celebrate but when I saw this video, it reminded me of how great my Father is and He must be celebrated no matter what.

I have a Father who loves me as I am. He is always loving and kind, never impatient, even though I take a while to get things sometimes. He holds my hand when things are tough, sometimes walks the walk for me, but mostly walks beside me and holds me up. He encourages me, guides me and works through my fears with me.

To all those Dad's out there, Happy Fathers Day. Thanks for being the best Dad's you can be.

Honey Snaps with a Twist

So what do you do when the packaged dessert you planned to make for guests turns out to be A LOT smaller than depicted on the picture and you're 45 minutes away from the nearest supermarket? And what looks and tastes impressive with Creme Brulee? I tried Honey Snaps. And to make them impressive looking, I gave them a twist.

Honey Snaps
50g Butter
2Tbsp Sugar
3Tbsp Honey
1/2 Cup Flour
1tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Ground Ginger

Preheat oven to 180C.

Melt butter, sugar and honey together in a saucepan. Remove from heat.

Add flour, baking powder, ginger and stir until mixture is smooth.

Drop teaspoons of mixture onto a cold oven tray, leaving enough room for mixture to spread to double its size. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Leave on tray for a few minutes to cool before removing to a wire rack.

Now for the twist: wait a couple of minutes before removing and wrapping around the handle of a wooden spoon.

Place on a tray until completely cool. Store in an airtight container until needed.

To serve, place 3 on the side and sprinkle with icing sugar. Voile!

Have a great week bloggers!

Things I'm Loving

Life is busy. Life carries on. Thank goodness our God is the one stable certainty in an ever changing and moving world.

It's a stunning day here today. Yesterday hubby and I were in shorts and t-shirts all day! What better a time than now to be thankful.

Things I'm loving...
This little $10 accessory that has dressed up much of my old wardrobe.

Mmmmm, healthy, energy packed breakfasts. Great after long training runs.

These two guys.

And this guy too!

(And he says he's not ready for a baby yet!)


Have an awesome Sunday everyone.

Drowned Rats

It's been wet here. Very wet. We are in the process of installing a spa pool. YAY! And it looks like it will be joining the great big swimming pool we call our backyard! However, life must go on and we don't let a little rain stop us. Yes, I still went for my 10km training run. I came back looking like a drowned rat and all set to enter a wet t-shirt competition, but I did it! And it's getting heaps easier.
So here are some happenings from the rest of the week.

  • Work, work and work. It's had it's challenges. My behaviour management skills are being honed as my class continues it's merger. There is nothing like the feeling of success in combating a challenging behaviour. Now we can get on with some learning!
  • I had my Ethics Approval Application for my research rejected this week with some valid points, but also some petty points. Those ivory towers people should be forced to do a sabbatical in the real world once in a while! Luckily I have two fantastic supervisors on my side. Their support is what is stopping me from throwing in the towel right now. It's HARD!
  • I've started bible study with a good friend this week and it's lifted me to a whole new level - something I've been needing for a while.
  • We decided to continue enjoying our DINK's status and get a spa! Sooooo exciting. It also lets hubby feel manly man man as he builds a deck etc. He's a happy man and when he's on a mission, there's nothing stopping him!
How has your week been?

Following Rainbows


Okay so when your 5 year olds are giggling and then one of the girls says "Mrs Luke, your hair looks funny", and when asked "why?", they reply, "because it's two different colours - the top is like my Nana's and the bottom is your normal colour", you know it's time for some action!After much trawling of several chemists, I finally found my favourite colour, which is not being sold anymore. I bought the last 3 on special. Goodness knows what I'll do come next year...maybe I'll embrace the grey goddess within!
So with apologies to my friend Jane (grey goddess extrordinaire), let the transformation begin!This is what I should look like in the end.The finished product. I'm trying to do the same pouty model pose just like on the box but somehow, I just look angry! The colour looks fab though.
Oh and I will share a sentence one of my lovelies wrote today about what he likes to do:

I like following rainbows and catching spiders.
CUTE! He's 5! It is why I teach.

Have a wonderfully colourful Friday everyone! (Find a rainbow to follow)

Saturday Mornings in Ngunguru

Saturday mornings in Ngunguru mean...

Boats waiting to be rowed

Seabirds eating breakfast

Picnics waiting to be had

Oh, btw, this is Weza's old house

Ducks waiting to be fed



I ran: 10km (by accident, was only meant to be 8)

I felt: tired but triumphant at the end, and lonely - missed having someone to run with today.

Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

It Just Takes One...

Fill in the blank and finish the sentence.




It just takes one______________to...


Short Run 1; Week 2

This week so far:

My class has doubled in size. Someone said to me today that I would probably be having the same feelings that any Mum has when they have another baby. That feeling of being totally committed to the other children but having to share her time with someone else; having to get to know that new little someone and have them get to know her; all the while giving the others what they are used to and need. Well I have 10 children whom I have a great relationship with and 11 new babies that I need to fit in. It's an adjustment but at least my body isn't going through all those glamorous things they go through after giving birth!

I have started the final part of study for my Master of Education.

My business is booming, which is a good thing but the timing sucks.

So life feels kinda like this:





and at the end of the day I kinda look like this:


I really feel like running away. So I'm feeling doubly blessed that I have committed to this training for the half marathon. It has given me a space to free my mind, release my spirit and focus my thoughts. At the moment, it is my lifeline.

I ran: 4km

I saw:
  • A cow on the loose,
  • My husband driving home (I stopped him to say, "Please don't eat that apple crumble in the fridge - it's all mine!", in my most loving wife voice),
  • Two pukeko fighting,
  • That caramel cow again - I think she's feeling out of place so I said some affirming things to her about her colouring.
I felt: Fit and healthy (and justified enough to eat the crumble)

Have a great Wednesday bloggers.

Running Diaries Week 2

This weekend I needed to run a long, slow 7km. Sorry bloggers but no running photos this week as I needed to just run, free my mind and quieten my spirit. I didn't even take music!

I ran: 7.5km

I saw:
  • The mist rising off the water.
  • A beautiful sunrise.
  • Several people walking. Everyone always says "Hello". I wonder if they'll let me take their picture?
  • My own breath.
I felt: Invincible because I ran the whole way!

This is why I run.

If you are like me and aren't lucky enough to have a proper coffee machine with the milk frother thingy etc, never fear! It is still possible to have a delicious hot chocolate, coffee or mocca at home and you'll save heaps of money too! Here's the way I do it.

3/4 cup milk


Microwave 3 mins


Whizz just below the surface and keep lifting upwards as the froth rises. Tilt the jug a little towards you to get the milk rolling. Now I am a trained barista and I think these whizzer things are just as good as the proper steam ones.

Hot chocolate - my fave at the moment is a mint/choc mix.


Scrape back the froth and pour a little hot milk in first. Mix powder and milk together.

As you pour the rest of the milk, scrape back the froth until 2/3 full.

Stop and swirl the rest of the milk around to mix together again, then pour.

Swizzle chocolate sauce or sprinkle a little more choc powder.


Then drop marshmallows on top. My fave are the white ones but have at least one pink for colour.

Oh and warning, if you are slow to drink your hot chocolate, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT put it in the microwave, or this is what will happen!

Have a scrumptious Sunday night.

Fings I'm Loving Friday

Homemade hot chocolate.

These super cool measuring cups - I have a thing for Russian Dolls.

My iron - I know! It's pink!

These awesome kiwi stamps - fun!

Knitting again - it's been a while.

Wedding thank yous that are FINALLY finshed! I know it's 7 months later but hey, they're done!

Our fabulous raised garden made by hubby (caged lid to keep away hungry possums in the night)

Sunset at our place.

Have a fabulous Friday and do something frivolous!