Ramp it Down and Batten it Up!

Couple days ago I was out in the yard when I observed Zeke amble out of the front door astride his black & yellow motorbike trike (a hand-down gift from my sister Helen whose many boys have outgrown it). Zeke sat contemplating the ride down the wooden ramp. But only for a second...then he launched off the level to gain the slope and...

Interlude: His first time down some 2-3wks ago I was seriously impressed with my sons level of control. He kept his feet down paddling forward but somehow slowing his progress enough that he easily made the 90 degree turn at the corner of the house and off the ramp without a hint of trouble. I had been worried how he'd cope when he eventually ventured down it unlikely to comprehend the possible consequences. Well, I was no longer worried.

Until the 2nd time he descended a few days later...when he held his feet up, got spooked at the speed he collected and losing confidence he panicked a right swerve into the side rails. Only he slid off the back before the bike hit so wasn't hurt any more than emotionally. Papa ran down and gave him a comfort cuddle but after bawling for 10 seconds he shook me off and marched over the the fallen bike and struggled trying to get it right side up. Once up he refused to get back on but wheeled it down and round the left hand corner onto the concrete yard by himself. Perhaps he's chanced his luck down the ramp since and pulled it off but I doubt it as neither Eden or I have seen him trying or heard him crying if so.

...from too far away to interfere with the physics about to unfold I watched as he pulled his feet up freeing his bike to go with gravity unhindered. Next thing, as the rush hit his senses, our Zekester throws his head back with a huge smile and shuts his eyes in delight. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry but anyway ran forward before deciding to try and catch him at the bottom as there was no way he'd ever take the corner at that speed nevermind sightless. He beat me there and the front fairing of the bike hit the railing so hard it blew the batten off the nail holding it to the fence. Thankfully this absorbed the shock and stopped the bike a little slower than if the batten had held so that when my boy's noggin connected with the next batten to the right it didn't do major damage. He sure bawled though. But again after 10 seconds shook me off and went to check out his bike. He couldn't pull the front wheel up and out of the fence and that got him crying. Eden came out and I asked her for the camera. This got Zeke quite upset as it meant his bike had to stay stuck where it was until recorded for posterity. Then he swung a leg over it and rolled down the remaining few feet of ramp. Hasn't been down from the top again yet though :)

Remove all the battens Pa. Then I could jump straight off!

Eden has said since that she'd not been looking forward to Zeke's teenage years given his already obvious passion for motorbikes - but she'd not been expecting this at only 21mths! He's also partial to pulling the front wheel up for a stationary 'wheelie' when sitting on the bike inside the house. Only one day he pulled so hard that he flipped it up backwards right over himself and the bike ends up landing within a centimetre of his little sisters head where she'd been lying supposedly safe seemingly well out of the way.

Me? I'm a proud Papa - that's my boy! But I'm also feeling something new. Wanting to protect these wonderful wee creatures without stifling their creativity or making them fearful souls. I'm also admiring my parents who managed to strike a pretty good balance for me growing up.         

Another New Year

Will this year be the same as last? Will I struggle with the same sins? Will I trip over the same pebbles? Will I stumble through the same pot-holes? Will I get upset and frustrated over the same failings of others? Will I cry again over the same wounds and hurts?

God created a growing changing world. The earth spins. Trees reach. Children grow. Flowers open. There's something so life-giving and exciting about watching beautiful healthy change transpire before our eyes.

We were created for eternity but because of the fall, life's growth is cut short in death. In relationships with God, self and others the discouraging breath of hopeless stagnation speaks... “he'll never understand.” “I'll never get over this hurdle.” “I'll always struggle with this.” “It will always be this way.”

God is unchanging but when our eyes are set on Him, we change. The uncurable wound is healed. The unforgivable sin atoned for. Light and hope are found in spite of darkness. Joy in sorrow. Strength in weakness. Peace amidst chaos and confusion.

You can't force a flower open without harm, life must issue from the inside. You can't argue a baby into smiles but when you cuddle and love, gaze at and interact with the child - the smile often follows. We must abide in Christ and allow his presence and love to change every facet of our being - bringing fruit we never thought possible. Through relating to Him, communicating with Him, obeying Him, worshiping Him, loving Him. Not by acquiring more knowledge 'about' Him without His presence.

Tazara at 3 months trying to conceal her irresistible smile

Will this year be the same as last or will I allow Christ's love to change me? At 19 months Zeke still falls over now and then but not as often and many days he runs freely. Tazara still cries now and then but more often the sounds coming from her lips are happy coo's and babblings. By God's grace I too can walk in His ways day by day and take up His words on my lips. Words of life instead of death. Abba's shoes are big, they fall off my feet as I tottle around but by God's grace I'm growing into His ways as he leads me along step by step with my fist clasped tight around His finger.

2013 Dickson Family beach trip! :)

A marriage (or any relationship) cannot stay stagnant. It is either growing or wilting. Thank you God for creating marriage. We get to be involved in the intimate life and growth of another. I've been so priviledged this last year to study a couple counseling papers with Andrew. It's fun learning exciting truths from God's Word together. To be able to look at areas of strength and weakness in our lives. Our sins wound each other but we get to rejoice over and experience growth in the other as we learn from the Master Healer how to heal such wounds and grow to afflict each other less often. We have the opportunity to propel one another forward or knock one another down. It's exciting to be able to pray together with Andrew and watch Abba answer prayer. Whatever 2013 may hold...Abba is here and he holds all the answers. God is so good! So good!

Toddled Christmas Time

Rhyming honour for some Great Gift Givers:

Grandipop & Grandmary (Zeke's magnet train arrived on Christmas Eve!),

Aunty Lorraine whose VW/Ka like toy 'Go Car' is so funkily functional,

Dad & Mum, the Tipper Truck works like fun.

Trained from a far
American bazaar
By magnetic Mary & Grandipapa.

Carred. Go Aunty great
Your aqua blue bait
Is so white-tyred quaint.

Trucked down the road
A love-bearing load
From G’dad & Nana’s abode.

 By ;~pikipikipoet

White Christmas!

Cool to hear our Maryland family got showered with snow right on Christmas Eve. Their wished for White Christmas!

Here the tail-end of Cyclone (Hurricane) Evan, who earlier badly smashed Samoa and the Fiji Islands, lavished us with warm downpours interspersed by muggy lulls pre-Christmas. Surely Christmas day afternoon would see me sweating out an overstuffed stomach in such humidity I surmised. But clouds and fresh northeasterlies kept us all sane while digesting delectable dinings.

I'd started the day with my quick 'Christmas special' half-bowl of Cocoa Pops sprinkled with chopped winegums. O yeah! Then after the fun opening of presents (some all the way from America!) I was off to Geoff & Jill McMillans, my Prison Care Ministries bosses, home for a decent cooked brunch and pud with about 20 of our past and present PCM guys, two of whom I collected on the way. Neat to catch up with some of the guys I'd not seen much of since they moved on from using our PCM accommodation. The kai was tops too. I managed to leave room for more Christmas kai to follow at our Dickson extended family get-together from noon by excusing myself a little early to make church late where I met up with Eden and the kids already worshiping in a packed Aberdeen Drive.

Boxing Day morning was nibbled away before, dodging heavy mid-afternoon showers, I grabbed bike and helmeted Zeke to zoom alongside my skateaway wife busy propelling another babe-on-wheels along the road to our swim date followed by tea and treats.

It wasn't until the 27th that our own, unexpected, White Christmas arrived. I was working with Jill and the two current residents on a late spring clean washing and wiping down of the kitchen in one of Prison Care Ministrie's four residential homes. As I pulled out the fridge for a thorough wipedown it suddenly came to mind to ask Jill if she'd heard of any small secondhand chest freezers for sale? One would be handy when living in Auckland (from February 2013 Lord willing). I'd already been to one surplus clearing auction with nephew Sam, also hunting for one, and had started looking online as well. Since then Sam had got one at a garage sale of folk emigrating to Australia. Motivated to pursue acquiring our own more purposefully early that very morning I'd asked God to provide one perfect for our needs at the right price.

"Hmm" said Jill. "We have one that we use only once or twice a year. It's not a chest freezer but a small front-opener with four drawers. Does that sound like something suitable?" "Sure, I'd be keen for a squiz at it sometime" I responded. "First check Geoff's ok with selling. If so, fix a price and let me know." I returned to scrubbing the fridge while Jill grabbed the Jif to work over the far cupboard drawers.

A few hours later I was enjoying an impromptu visit to an ex-PCM man when Geoff called asking am I still in town? Hearing the affirmative he requested I pop by their place before going home. He didn't say what for; could be any kind of PCM thing I thought. Maybe even that freezer? When I arrived the McMillans waved me into the garage where their orange VW-powered trike normally sleeps. But before I'd got much of a gander at the freezer unit Geoff instructed me to go out to the street and reverse my station wagon up their driveway. Strange I thought, he hasn't mentioned a price yet. I wonder; would they be going to...? I didn't have to wait long to be confirmed. They'd decided they wanted Eden and I to have it at no cost. A gift to a good home. Accepting gratefully I welcomed in our White(ware) Christmas :)

Thank You Abba Father for answering my prayer so perfectly! Using a precious couple who themselves know firsthand of Your generosity through their many years of trusting You with their livelihood and the ministry You called them into.   

Teary Free

The holidays surround us and I'm soaking up the special moments in this life God's given me! I got to talk to Joli, Melody, Jenny and Mama on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day I enjoyed Andrew's family and some time in the pool with Kate, Sam, Jack, Tully and Shay. Boxing Day I tried out my new roller blades (from my hubby)! Andrew biked with Zeke on the back and I roller-bladed pushing Taza in the stroller. I love my family! I'm so excited about rollerblading! 

Tazara is now three months and the most smiley bonny cuddly little bundle I ever laid eyes on. It was such a welcome relief at 8 weeks to find out my precious daughter is not a natural villain. Her first weeks are a blur of tears. At about three weeks Tazara started fits of unconsolable crying with only temporarily pauses throughout the day. Andrew and I who once thought we were marvelous parents tried everything until we resorted to shutting the door and letting her cry. My feeding her only made it worse as she'd struggle through gulping down milk and then toss and turn and cry for the next hours. It was really hard not to be able to comfort or make her happy. With Zeke to look after I couldn't give all my time to soothing her so I wore her in the sleepy wrap for hours each day.

Zeke was set off by her crying and took to having regular tantrums and went off food temporarily. Each time I left the house I regretted it as the stress and strain of keeping my children under control left me exhausted and often in tears. I who have prided myself on wanting 19 children found myself defeated and overwhelmed by two adorable babies. After diagnosing her with acid reflux our doctor prescribed Losec. I'd read an article from Mum D. about some of the long term negative effects of such a drug as well as reading from a very helpful website 'Crying over Spilled Milk' about babies with reflux and allergies. I decided to first try going off dairy/gluten completely before starting her on the drug. We noticed changes after a few days and after two weeks she was an angelic cooing baby with lots of smiles and laughs. If I so much as use salad dressing with a bit of milk solids in it Tazara lets us know all about it.

One such morning, Andrew had left for work and I was kneeling on the couch with worship music playing. After some meaningful time in worship I sat back with fresh tears on my cheeks and was thinking about who I'd like to talk to. I decided I really ached to talk to Kendra (we hadn't talked in months). I started rehearsing what I'd say to her and what it would be like to talk with her. Then my cell phone rang and I figured I better put my sentimental moment on hold to answer it. It was Kendra!!! God had given Kendra a dream about me the night before so she'd decided to call....Thank you Lord!! So many wonderful gifts you give!!!