2012

We embark on a new year with new purpose and for our family that means building a family house in the island that we call the motherland - Aitutaki.
It's a huge undertaking that will require a lot of communication between family members, getting ourselves prepared, checklists, highs, lows, rallying together. It's the kind of thing that will make or break a family unit, but in the end it's all worthwhile.
And it all started with one person having a vision, a purpose.

That's what the family of God is like, we have a home in the motherland - Heaven, but we don't have to build it, the keys are just waiting for us to occupy, we each have our own and it's decorated to our specifications and in a location which I bet will be not too far from each other.
The only thing we have to work on is us, and to help us God gave us a family, we'll have our checklists, highs, lows and it will rally us together, it could make or break our family unit, but in the end it's all worthwhile.
And it started with one person having a vision, a purpose.

I love my family, but Jesus loves us most!!!
Something to help us on our journey family, the one that will end not only in Aitutaki, but also in the kingdom to come.
xxox

Time's Tide...

Wow what a long time it has been since anyone has posted here on our blog, probably lots of people dropping by but not having the time (or sometimes the inclination) to write something for the rest of us. LOL, yep many a times that has been me!!!!

But tonight I thought - what the hey! I'll drop a line to all those out there who want to know what's going on in this little corner of the world, and want to know how time has been treating us.

For us time has meant that...

We buried a son, brother, uncle, friend, cousin - Charlie Bates, 47 years old - gone far too soon. We will miss him terribly... the tide of time has brought us heartache...

Aunty Taki and Aunty Rae went to the states, and for those of us who are stuck here in Tokoroa for now, we got to have a glimpse of L.A., Las Vegas and Hawaii... Thanks girls we had a blast reading your facebook and looking through all the pictures... Here, time has been generous...

We got to hang out with family members for 5 days, we cried, laughed, talked 'til early hours in the morning and lived in the moment... Here, time was kind...

Lottie and Flo, Aunty Rae have moved locations, new locations, new homes... Here, time has brought about changes...

Church has moved in a new direction, where people once were just partakers, they are now participate'ers, getting involved and being inspired by the word and each other, old faces are returning, the vigor and first love that we all once had is becoming revived... here, time has brought about renewal and reconnection...

Like the tide, time has come and it has gone, whatever has been left in it's wake has been momentous and in some instances life changing...but one change that time has made that has affected all of us has been...

The love we have for one another as a family, brothers, sisters, nieces, aunties, uncles, sons, daughters, grandchildren,

time has changed the bond that is there...

It has made it stronger!!!

To all my family (you know who you are)

I love you - with all my heart!!!

xxox

Steal Away

Hows this for a blast from the past?

Enjoy :)

What in the world

Sung by Babbie Mason

If we were not loved, to love
If we were not touched, to touch
If we were not led, to lead
If we were not fed, to feed

If you did not sacrifice
So we could have new life
Fuller and deeper than before
Then Lord, what in the world have you saved us for?

If we were not taught, to teach
If we were not sought, to seek
If we were not helped, to help
If we were not told, to tell

If you've not forgiven us
To let mercy live in us
So you could love through us once more

Then Lord, what in the world have you saved us for?

There's a reason we were brought to life
Lord, you made us for this place and time
And you showed the way for us to find
Our sacred purpose, our place in your design.

We have been loved, to love (there is a reason)
And we have been touched, to touch (there is a reason)
We have been led, to lead
And we have been fed, to feed

If you did not set us free
So that our souls might lead
Prisoners towards the open door
Then Lord, what in the world did you save us for?
Lord, why in the world did you save us?
Lord, what in the world have you saved us for?

We have been loved, to love (there is a reason, a reason to love)
And we have been touched, to touch (there is a reason, a reason to love)

Thank you Lord

Graduation

Florence Tamoe Kamoe (LOL)

Graduated today with a Diploma in Early Childhood! 3 years of hard work paid off today for her, recognition that for those who persevere come great rewards.

Thanks for the opportunity to share this event with you...

The opportunity to hang out and have a good laugh, good conversation, good food...

The opportunity to re-connect with family and friends...

The opportunity to celebrate the contribution you give as a teacher...

The opportunity to recognise the talents that you possess...

The opportunity to say congratulations on a job well done!

From here you now become the window of opportunity to the little ones that you will teach, and because of that, you will show them that the world for them too, holds endless opportunities...

This post is just for you cousin...

USA, USA, USA!!!!

Yep, Summer 2011, can't wait!!!! I'm sorting my finances out and making sure that fares are sorted this year and then saving for spending money the following year - 'cos I want lots!!!! This would be my big goal for the next 2 years. I was going to save the money so that I could go to one of the All Black World Cup games, but..... nah!!!

I've been looking online for places to visit in New York because it's my all time 'gotta go' destination in the States, (then next would be Europe) Rockerfella Centre looks mad!!! Wouldn't mind checking out the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir as well... so many places to want to go and things to do...it's just like a kid in a candy shop...

I think the prospect of doing it with our little 'tere party' adds to the excitement of it all as well!

it's really funny 'cos Dad hit me up about the trip the other night and said:

'Oh America is not a good place to go, the terrorists are trying to bomb there and it's not safe and they might mistake you guys for muslims' WHAAAAATTTT????!!!! If Taki doesn't smile too much and we don't look overly happy we should be all good!!!

Oh Dad what a crack up!!! I think I'm probably more worried about some stupid suicide bomber trying to take our plane out, or the fact it takes over 2 million hours to get there and as I've grown older, I've hated travelling in planes more and more!!!

So for now, I'll spend time getting my finances in order, plastering the walls of my office at work with pictures of New York, pin pointing on the map in my class New York, and spend time dreaming about what is yet to come!!!

WoooHoooo roll on 2011!

(oh yeah - and hopefully the All Blacks will win the world cup that year as well!)

Another special day

Happy Birthday to my dearest cousin, Mata. 40 today!!! (14/1/2010)

Funny, intelligent, loving, calming,

distinctive, giving, interesting, loyal ...

A lot of things to a lot of people ...

and special to everyone in your own way

So, I dedicate this to you ...

because without you, we'd just be REAL ... (",)

Luv REALM