Nature Study

When a ordinary fishing trip becomes a organic study of nature.

An overcast day in the beautiful place called Grossi Point, Mapua, what better time to go for a fish?  The boys had spent the morning with my Mum, finishing their homeschool and playing, while I gave some counselling training to a handful of enthusiastic and passionate youth workers.  Upon my return, we decided a spot of fishing was in order, at this location it is really only casting out practise, but we call it fishing anyway. Snag after snag, then birds nests, of the fishing kind rather than the feathered kind, kind of puts kids off the fishing part, so they find their own fun. Climbing trees, exploring the mudflats, hunting crabs. The opportunity to forage and explore is too much to resist.

Seb enjoyed practising casting out and exploring. Solomon collected tiny crabs to keep as pets while holding a fishing rod for all of 30 seconds.  Nana undid the birds nests. I walked the shore trying to get snags unstuck.  A couple of hours later it was off to the ice-cream shop.  A prefect afternoon.

Brownie Making

Charles Upham Avenue Flat Chocolate Brownie

Today we made Brownie, I thought the boys may like to learn the best brownie recipe in the world, best, meaning yummiest, yet most decadent/unhealthy.

I always get asked for the recipe when I take it out to things, so I thought I'd share.

Reciepe calls for 200gms of butter, but I find this a bit much.  So this is slightly refined from the orginal recipe (forgive me Mel, Rose and Emma for tampering with the tradition)

175gms Butter
1/2 Cup Cocoa

Melt in a saucepan. Take off, allow to cool for a few minutes.

Add:
1 cup of flour
2 cups of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
2 eggs
a decent handful of white chocolate buttons

Mix.

Pour out into a baking paper lined, square, retangle or round tin, totally up to you. I normally go a square, as it means the brownie is thicker and stickier.  I like it tacky as I put it in the fridge to harden, and keep it refrigerated, so it's thick and rich.

Variations: You can also add different types of nuts or dried fruits like cranberries or dates.

Bake for 18-20 minutes depending on your oven.  I have a bit of a rubbish oven, so I don't preheat mine, I just bang it in for 20 minutes, then tip it slightly sideways to see if the mixture isn't causing waves on the top, if not it's done in my book. I then leave it to cool and put it in the fridge. It goes hard then out it comes and I cut it just before I serve it, or cut it and put it in a airtight container, to eat as NEEDED.

Sadly you may need to try this a few times and alter things slightly to get it just how you like it.  Ensure you share or your waistline will not thank you.

ENJOY.

Swimming Lessons

We got a voucher for a week of swimming lessons.  Swimming every day proves a energy sapping experience for two boys who put all their energy into all they do. Afternoons were quiet time and early nights were a necessity.

To celebrate the hard work the boys put in to work on their breathing, strokes, strength of their kick, and just the challenge of pushing through when tired, we celebrated with hot chips with two lots of sauce, and for me, a coffee.

Rainy Mid-Summer

Early January was rainy and windy, but it didn't stop these two cricketers.

They were in the middle of an exciting game, unlimited overs, when it started absolutely pouring with rain.  The game continued...until Mum wanted to take a picture...

The Source of the Riwaka

Boxing Day 2013

Nana's Birthday.  The call of nature was strong today, after a busy Christmas Day with family. So Nana and Grandad suggested a drive to the cource. After a short stop in Motueka to buy the cheapest shoes we could find for Sol, we drove around the bottom of the infamous Takaka Hill, up a beautiful valley, finding ourselves among a small crowd of seekers of the source.  After a picnic lunch and a leasurely10 minute walk, there it was, a rock with a small cave that had tonnes of water gently flowing from it.  

Midsummer, yet ice cold water.

These two brave souls were bribed an ice-cream to go in and under.  It took a good 15 minutes to pluck up the courage, as it was cold as ice. Bear Grylls would have been proud.

They did earn their real fruit ice cream, yet were still shivering as they ate it.  

Beautiful place.

The birth pains of the family picture

Wow, that was painful...

I can't even tell you how many attempts we made. We went pass the comical to the ludacrest. So here are the best of the lot;

What do we do?

Since February 2013 we have been waiting for the PNG government to approve a position for an ex-pat to work in a new role as CFO/Mentor at Christian Leaders Training College.

It is now December 2013, and still no news, in fact, no contact from the government at all.  There has been a steady stream of correspondence from CLTC, but it has been a one way conversation.

We waited.

And waited.

And still we wait.

We weren't looking for a call to missions work, we were actually quite happy doing what we were doing.  One weekend changed all that. God called, we were open to what He was suggesting.

We visited, we freaked out a bit, it is a land of contrast, and extremes.  Yet we knew God had called us. So we said yes, we will go.

We waited.

And waited.

And still we wait.

Now we have been offered an opportunity to go out with another organisation until the CLTC position has been approved.  With this offer, comes an orientation, and a chance to work in Mt Hagan until we get the big tick for the other job, as well as a chance to build relationships with other ex-pats in the region. There are many positives.

We weren't called through this role.  We don't want to fall into the trap of 'sorting it out' ourselves. God's timing is perfect.   We are praying and listening as we are keen to make sure we're not trying to work out God's plan for him in a Abraham and Hagar kind of way.

We've prayed

And prayed

And still we pray.