Saturday 2 March 2013

:: thankfulness this week ::




This morning we took a little walk down the road to one of the local beaches. It was my first time there, second for the girls and one of several for Eti, who loves to explore! A 'short' walk we thought it would be, so opted not to drive, but didn't remember that our 2 year olds love to stop at anything and everything that captures their attention...small posts to sit on, dandelions to pick, fences to climb on, letter boxes to touch and grass to run on. As much as I like to keep going to get on to the destination, I admire the way small children allow themselves to be distracted and to enjoy even the smallest things, like trails of ants scurrying back and forth. They can definitely teach me several things about appreciating the small things in life that we often overlook. 


Appreciation is something I really need to work on using these days. To look just beyond our fence to the stunning views, and within to all the gifts we have right in front of us. I have a terrible ability to look everywhere else and wish for what I don't have. Which takes away any sense of gratitude and contentedness. So, as much energy as I use trying to teach our little girls to learn to listen and obey, maybe I should take a leaf from my own book and learn from them how to appreciate even the smallest things, as they do and to see life around us through childlike wonder.




The girls & Eti were keen to show me the swing they had discovered during their last visit to the beach. This time the tide was up high which meant they were swinging out over shallow water. I love that they have a papa like this...they have so much fun! :o)





Both girls had the same bodysuits on, so it's hard to tell who's who, but they both had their turn swinging over the waters with big smiles on their faces!



If the following picture had sound you'd hear giggles and squeals of the delighted anticipation of papa letting go! 



 
It was a precious little space of time that we enjoyed down at the beach, which was almost entirely covered with water and almost all to ourselves. I often opt to stay at home these days while the girls and Eti venture out, to rest and to catch up on unpacking jobs. But I'm glad I joined in with them this morning. I'm trying to learn to be more Mary over Martha and remembering that time spent with loved ones is much more valuable than time doing jobs, however 'important' I think they might be!

 
On the way back up to the road I glimpsed signs of Autumn sneaking its way into this wonderful summer. We've been treated to days and days of sunshine, heat and no rain. I could even say weeks. Being in a community that is not connected to the city's water supply, we rely on the rain to fill our water tanks. Needless to say we have to watch our water carefully these days and anticipate the 7-day wait to have the tanks filled by the water tanker companies if necessary!

 
We're thankful for many other things at the moment, one of the most being the safe arrival of this little guy above just a couple of weeks ago, who made us a proud Uncle, Aunt and cousins for the second time in as many months! We also love our other little cousin and niece who is growing up quickly and getting cuter by the day :o)

We're thankful that our own little baby is growing well and the weeks are ticking by. This week we hope to be able to find out whether it's another little she or a he who will join us this July/August! I'm thankful at the amazing contrast of this pregnancy to the girls' and how smoothly it's going!

Eti's new job is going well and he's already finding it easier to keep up with the speed and different accents in English. I am really proud of him and love that he goes off to work cheerfully each day even though it's a challenge to understand the whole new language of technical terms let alone joking in English! He's working here as a technician for their fire safety systems.

And we're settling into some normal routines again, this time with the added bonus of a local Playgroup that is so welcoming and friendly to the girls and I. It's nice to get to know people and feel more settled. New Zealand is home for us and it's also becoming home. And, you know what? I think I even caught a glimpse of a little Swiss cow this morning...


1 comment:

  1. Oh beautiful pics - the ones at the beach look like they could be somewhere in the Mediterranean! Love your perspective on doing things at your children's pace :-)

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