Goodness me my blog has been read in Barbados, Israel and Brazil this past week - that's amazing.

It's Sunday afternoon and it's just me and the dog (actually the cat is around somewhere too I think) so I thought  I'd sit down and do some writing.  The last 2 Sundays I've been down in Wellington so it was a wee bit weird being back in Foxton.  It felt kind of like I'd been away on holiday for a few weeks without leaving home expect on Sundays.  A holiday that isn't a holiday!!

As I mentioned in my last blog on Monday afternoon the earth moved rather vigorously for those of us living in the lower part of the North Island. I sustained no damage which was a blessing.  The  2 wine glasses which broke don't count as damage especially as it was my own fault - it isn't wise to stack small wine glasses on top of upturned bigger wine glasses, you're just asking for them to eventually fall down and break and that's exactly what happened.  I consider it a lesson learnt and I didn't use them anyway so no great loss.

The problem with having a major earthquake is that people become unsettled and then when the come to visit me they get concerned every time my house shakes and rattles thinking it's another earthquake. This 'phenomena' happens when big trucks hit a certain spot on the road as they head north.  I'm used to it and can tell the difference between an earthquake and a heavy laden truck, but I do sometimes wonder how good all that shaking is for my house.  The worst time is the early evening when all the big trucks are doing their Wellington to Auckland run.  As I live in a 70km zone they have a bit of speed already when they hit the spot.  I'd say if the trucks were only going 50km/h the effect would be much less.  Maybe a letter to the council is in order.  I'll put it on my  things to do list, which isn't an actual list but just in my head.  That's probably why some things don't get done!!

On Tuesday I spent the day with my sister chicks from Wellington.  What a great day we had - as usual.  And as usual it went way too fast and I miss them terribly.  We had lots of laughter, lots of sharing, lots of encouraging and just a pinch of mischief.  I appreciate that we can be open and honest with each other, encourage each other and share our thoughts, dreams and worries.  Although we live far apart and our lives are moving in different directions I know that they are always there for me as I am for them.  That's true friendship and something to be treasured.

I guess in our lifetime many people will move in and out of our lives, most are passing acquaintances who over time we will lose contact with. True friends are the ones who when distance, time and circumstances separate you fit right back in when you see each other again - as if all that time apart has never happened.  You just continue where you left off from the last time you were together.

So what else have I been up to this week - well I decided to start aqua jogging again and went 3 times this past week.  I was up at 5.45am and at the pool just after 6, that's when it opens. I spend about an hour at the pool first aqua jogging and then swimming laps before heading home for a shower and breakfast.  I'm loving it and I feel great.  I'm not usually a morning person and it is still dark when I leave home but there is something special about swimming and then watching to sun come up.  I love the water and swimming and I also love the beach, but I'm not into swimming at the beach.  I remember as a child being at the beach and seeing a group of people working to resuscitate a young lady who had obviously almost drowned, that has stayed with me ever since.  I do love beach walks and will happily 'paddle' in the water but I won't swim.  Anyway this week my plan is to continue with my early morning swimming regime.  I think it'll get harder once winter arrives cause getting up on cold mornings sucks even if a nice warm pool is waiting.

What else have I been up to??  I looked after Noah as I usually do every week, I unpacked and sorted the rather large Rawleigh order that arrived via the courier.  Rang those who had placed orders for various things and arranged times to deliver them.  I applied for another job - thanks Jackie for again helping to tweak my CV - you're a gem.  I also mowed the lawn, did a bit of gardening, I did my housework (properly) and did a spot of de-cluttering.

My 'therapy' when I feel I need it is too rearrange my lounge.  Others do retail therapy, but not me - I lug furniture around, get hot and frustrated and finally have things were I want them. Rearranging is not easy in my lounge as I have this rather large hearth the sticks out into the room meaning there are only so many ways of arranging the furniture.  Anyway after the last few weeks I decided I needed some therapy to work some things out of my system, however, because it was already very warm by 9am on Saturday morning the thought of shifting heavy objects around was actually not very appealing, so I decided to just de-clutter instead.  And as these things usually go you make a start somewhere and the ball just continues to roll.  High shelves and the top of bookcases etc that usually get  only an annual dust due to no-one being tall enough to see onto them anyway got a good going over, cupboards were cleaned out and bookshelves de-cluttered, I now even have more bench space in the kitchen and my windowsill in there is also free of clutter.  I managed to collect 3.5 boxes of stuff that I no longer want/need and that was only from the kitchen, lounge and diningroom.  These boxes are now residing in the garage just incase I change my mind about any items, they will eventually go to the local Op shop.  Next on my list is my sewing room - but that's for another day sometime way, way down the track cause I may well need retail therapy once I've tackled that room so I need to save first ;0)

So there you go - I am once again of sound mind thanks to my 'therapy' session on Saturday.  Having everything looking spic and span both inside and out is a great feeling, although it has make me wonder what on earth am I going to do this coming week to fill my days??!!  I'll just have to do some sewing - hopefully the fabric I ordered from America arrives soon, oh and ironing, I need to do some ironing as I have a rather large pile of novelty pillowcases that need ironing and packaging for the upcoming market. And if I really have nothing else to do there is always TradeMe - it's about time I did a bit of work on there as I have a cupboard full of things to photograph and list.  All in all there is actually plenty to do to keep me out of mischief - who me get into mischief!!  Never!!

Thanks once again for taking the time to read this chapter of my journey.  In my clean up yesterday I came across the following prayer and I just wanted to share it with you. Maybe it'll help you as much as it has helped me.

The Knots Prayer

Dear God:
Please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,
may nots,
might nots that may find
a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,
would nots and
should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all,
Dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind,
my heart and my life all of the 'am nots'
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that I am not good enough.
AMEN

Author Known to God

Wishing you God's blessing this week. 

Love and hugs

Jolanda