Netball crazy!

Netball... a sport I've long 'admired' but never had a chance to try... Now, being in NZ, netball is the biggest sport here, for girls, that is, only second to rugby of course. I've finally had a chance to try my hand at the game. Very different for me, it being a team sport, but all the same, ball skills and hand-eye-coordination are required. Maoribank. That's the team I'm in. We're playing in the Hutt Valley Netball Championships. Been for 2 training sesh. May not be ready for the real game yet... maybe I'll just be a bench-warmer this weekend, but the experience is just amazing. The quality of the game, at this level is quite high, being easily the shortest and maybe the 2nd smallest player will make it difficult for me. I like it though... for once, I'm one of the smallest!!! Even the jersey which I was given was size S, and it's too big for me!!! I like it here!!!

Only thing is, I'm a 'lil unfit... after a whole day of sitting around with the kids, watching them at the playground, at last mon sesh, I pulled a groin muscle... OUCH! After last 2 days of self-inflicting painful stretches and some self treatment, it's pretty much well now. Managed a run this morning. Pretty happy with my progress so far, keeping in mind my target for the end of the year.

Today also marked the first time I took the kids out of Upper Hutt. Took a 30 min drive (think Bukit Batok to Simei with no traffic) to Lower Hutt. We went to one of the biggest shopping centres in NZ(so say the guidebooks), Westfield (Queensgate). Before you imagine anything like the malls back home, this 'mega-mall' is 3 levels, with the top level being the cinema... So 2 levels of shops, each level maybe just the size of Park Mall. Still, not bad for NZ, and being in a suburb. Can't complain. Best thing was, there's an indoor playground for the kids!!! Best thing for the rain storms we've had over the last 2 days. i thought it only rained like that in the tropics! Well, I'm also learning not to read the weather by looking into the sky. I've been played out by the fine weather more than 3 times now, having left my laundry in the sunny cloudless weather, only to regret it when I'm too far away to turn around... Someone adviced that jere in Wellington, you have to be prepared. You can experience all 4 seasons in  single day. 

How's that for unpredictable!

Morning Run

Time: 30mins

Route: Miro street8 Martin Street 8 Fergusson

Kids say the darnest things...

I'm sure you've all heard that before... But when it comes from your own child, it's just too hard to contain it...

So here's the conversation between daddy and che K:

Daddy: You know, when mummy was younger, she was a very good tennis player. When daddy was in school, I was a good swimmer. So K, what about you? What are you good at?

Che K: Eating chippies!!!

When daddy related this to me, I almost died laughing!!! Who would have thought of that!!!

Anyway, here's the happiest place on earth.... (for the Ks that is)

Sorry... pics can't seem to be uploaded tonight... will try again.

In all things give thanks...

You might be thinking... what is there not to be thankful for, D, you are in the land of sheep!!!

Indeed, I cannot disagree with that. 

Picture this: Jogging along a stream, with wide open spaces around you. Rolling hills to the right and left of you, for you are in a valley. No one in sight, except for a dog running free with the owner following in his truck... Just you and God, and all

 the majesty and splendour of His creation... that was me yesterday evening. As I was admiring the beauty of my surroundings, the Lord said,"Give thanks." That's exactly what I sang for the rest of my run home. Giving thanks not just for where I am, but for the family time He's given to us. Time to restore and rekindle relationships, time to live out fully the role of mother and wife, time for respite from ministry, and the busy-ness of it all, time for God. Yesterday, I'd realised that with 2 kids and a husband to care for, QT at home is never a sure-thing... the discipline required to go out for that daily run and time with God goes perfectly hand-in-hand! So, this is my new found telecommunication channel to God. With the greenery around, not much to distract me, Perfect!

Just going to insert here some snippets of our house and kids... (disclaimer: these are not taken with the BIG toy...)

More coming up...

Some airtime finally...

In Upper Hutt... about 20 minutes north of Wellington City. Things are slow and quiet... but with 2 kids under the age of 3, the pace of life on the weekdays, for me, sadly has not changed much:( Kids are still trying to settle into a routine. the next 2 weeks are term break for the kids here... so che K still has some time to find a school. Kindys here are FREE!!! BUT has a supa long waiting list. So pray that she'll get a place soon, if not we'll try to get her into a private one. We've visited 2 churches to date, a Baptist one, and an Anglican one today... still in the process of assessing which we'll settle down in. 

Internet access is hard to come by. In our attempt to save some money, we've decided not to install the broadband in our home... so will only get access perhaps once a week only. Our little 2 bedroom 'flat' has a big garden, but it's been raining everyday this week, so that's really no use... the winter has also started... temperatures yesterday and today is about sub-10deg. With the wind....BRRRR.... some requests for pics from the new BIG toy will have to wait till a day when I get him to upload the pics on. When I have more online time, I suppose. 

Overall, I think we've settled down nicely. Have gone for my first Les Mills BodyAttack class last week... barely survived it. But really loved it. Am determined to go daily if the big Boss allows ;P

Till the next time I get free airtime....

One week later...

Hmm... trying to recall the birthday celebrations... Oh yes... we went to have dinner at BaliThai... It was our first time eating there... pretty good food... especially loved the BBQ combo.(sorry no pics... gotta start getting into that pic habit) of course daddy K finally got his new toy!!! boy is it BIG!!! So big, that I'm starting to wonder if it'll be worth whipping it out just to take 1 pic:)

On with the packing. With 3 days remaining, the packing has now kicked in to 4th gear. On top of helping to move out of the in-laws house, the house is just in mayhem, not withstanding the dust that is being stirred up! I might have to consider re-packing... We might be over-weight!!!

Gotta stop being so KS! 

I'm so glad the nebulising event is over now. Mei K breathes through cleared passageways now. Mummy and baby are happier now... Sleep deprivation is starting to take it's toll... Fatigue is setting in...