Finishing Well

 I hate finishing things, I hate things ending. Really it all comes down to the fact that I hate to say good bye. I hate finishing books (especially book series), I have been known to stretch out the last chapter forever. I hate finishing movies, unless I don’t like the movie. I hate finishing bags of chips or packages of cookies, I like to save the last few and eat them slowly. I hated finishing school and saying bye to friends. Anything where I know I will have to say “good bye” and move on to something unknown and new is one of the worst feelings for me. That is why I usually do not finish well.

The thing the Lord has been teaching me most the last couple of weeks and probably will continue to teach me the rest of my life is to finish well. For me it is so easy to look at what is coming and focus everything on that so that I don’t have to think about saying “goodbye” to the season I am in now.

Sadly I will be leaving New ZealandSeptember 21 and returning to the StatesOctober 14^th. In this time it is really easy for me to look at and worry about what I am going to be doing come October 15^th and miss out on all the things that are happening here in the mean time. It is easy for me to shut off to the things here so that it will not hurt so much to say “good bye” in the end.

The Lord has been showing me so much the last couple of weeks that it is more important for me to finish this season well and focus on all the things he is telling me to do here than it is to look ahead at when is coming. He will worry about the future and I just need to do what He is calling me to do in the present. He gave me these verses the other day and it was such an encouragement and reminder to finish what He has given me.

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 “and in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; so there also may be completion of what you have.”

We must finish what the Lord has given us to do so that we are prepared for the next steps and the next season He gives us. We must finish what we have started with more energy and excitement than we started with. I don’t know how many of you have run in any races (5k, half marathon, marathon…) but the start is very important, and the middle is important to pace yourself and keep in stride, but the ending is the most important part. As you near the finish line you have to press on and pick up your pace. You can hear the crowd cheering and the excitement of only having so much farther to go is amazing but you must keep moving and finish. If you stop right there with the end in sight you may as well not run the race at all. You haven’t really done anything great you just started a race and well stopped. You have to finish it and finishing in a sprint could mean the difference between completing your goal and finishing last.

I know I must finish my time here is New Zealand well. I can’t shut off and just relax and focus on what is coming when I get to the states. I need to continue to share the Lord with people, and pursue relationships with people. I need to press on toward the finish. And after I have crossed that finish line and landed in LAX I can look forward to the next race that the Lord calls me to.

What are you lacking enthusiasm to finishing well? Know that I am there cheering you on and that others around you are pushing and encouraging you to not just finish, but finish well!!

Visiting California and Weddings

Ok I realize I have been slacking in the blog department the last few weeks! But what can I say things have been CRAZY busy! I went to California for a few weeks to visit my family and to be in my dear friend Elizabeth’s wedding! I loved the visit so much! I enjoyed eating all the California food (Chick-fil-a, chipotle, Wahoo’s…), I loved spending time with my family, I loved meeting my lovely friends babies, and I really loved going to church and getting fed the word of God!

For the most part this blog is going to be photos! I love photos and I feel pictures speak more than words! Who wants to read words when you can look at pictures?

 

Half of my stuff stayed in New Zealand the other half came back to California

I spent the night in the Auckland Airport doing anything to keep myself awake

 

The airline forced me to check my guitar which sucked! Not only was a really worried about my guitar I also had to pay $200 that was not budgeted for this trip!

My Roots Family surprised me by showing up at my house!

Meeting Rachel's little one!

And Candis' cuttie!

Running at the Beach (not quite New Zealand beaches)

My sister came down!!!

Family Reunited!!!! Miss them!

 

COLOR RUN!!!

Before and After!

Color Party

 

Riding Bikes as a family!

4th of July Surf City 5k

4th of July!!!

Neighborhood Bike Parade

Mom and I sat out to watch the neighborhood bike parade on the 4th!

 

This is not New Zealand!!!

Bridge to Nowhere Hike

My cute puppy on our hike

 

Family at Elizabeth's wedding

Sister and I with the Bride

Bridesmaids!!

Father Daughter Dance

Grandfather, Granddaughter dance 

Cutting the cake

 

Taking my puppy and aunt's puppy to the beach!

Almost finished my blanket!!

All in all I loved my trip back to the states but I am so happy to be back in New Zealand and seeking the Lord for the next steps. I believe in my last blog I was asking you all to pray for me to find a place to live. Well I am currently house sitting for a family in our church that is in England till Mid August. Praise the Lord for His provision. After mid-August I will be moving to my friend Ellen’s parent house.

When I returned to New Zealand last Friday, I hopped on a bus to Whangarei and directly and hit the ground running. After a quick stop to pick up my car and a quick shower I went straight to the church to help decorate for Ellen’s wedding. After decorating and the wedding rehearsal, I was able to get some much needed sleep. Saturday morning I woke up early and headed for Ellen’s house to get her hair ready for the wedding. The wedding was beautiful and I enjoyed so much getting to be a part of it and bless them. I can’t wait to see what the Lord does next in their lives!!

I did Ellen's hair for the wedding and it took almost 4 hours!!!

Beautiful Bride

AMY

Dwayne during the speeches

Cutting the cake

Fist dance

Ordering Dominos!

Mother of the groom and little sister!

I love Priscilla so much! Ellen is lucky to have her a mother in Law

Paper Airplane decorations!!

So happy the decorations turned out fantastic!

Photo booth

Ellen I am so happy for you and so blessed to be a part of your life!!

 

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

 

 

The Lord has been doing so much life lately and while I have been in New Zealand. The last couple weeks I have been praying and reflecting on what the Lord has been doing and I am so amazed. I came here expecting to help the church and bless people, but I have been so changed by the Lord. I don’t doubt that I am being used to bless people and help the church but that’s only part of the reason the Lord brought me to New Zealand.

I have seen and continue to see the Lord provide for my needs in amazing impossible ways. He has constantly provide me somewhere to live (even last minute sometimes), He has given me food everyday, He allowed me to buy a reliable car, He has given me the finances to keep filling my car with fuel, He has given me people to vent to and talk to, He has given me family during Christmas and my Birthday when I thought I was going to be alone, He has shown me His power and strength when I have none of my own, He has met every need above and beyond, and He has changed me completely. These are only a few of the things the Lord has done that have opened my eyes to how much He cares about me.

 

This week as I taught the teen girls Bible study I was blown away by how much the Lord loves us and how He planned us and created us perfect for Him. I was teaching them on how we need to give the Lord the place of honor in our lives and when we look down on ourselves and think badly about ourselves we are not honoring Him. When we constantly wish we look different or were different we are dishonoring Him because He made us perfect. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We went through Psalm 139 and I was blown away by the Lord’s love for us and His perfection. He didn’t just throw us together and think yea that’ll do. No we are skillfully made! I encourage you to read through Psalm 139 slowly and see how much the Lord loves you and cares for you!

You truly are loved and cared about! He will provide for your every need and He has such an amazing plan for your life!!

 

On another note… If you see my Instagram and or Facebook you know that an owl (morepork) hit our window the other night. (for the full story go here) The owl turned out to be alright and we were able to release it a hour later. It was so beautiful!

Our neighbor checking the Morepork out

 

On Thursday nights we watch the New Zealand’s hottest Home Baker. Last Friday we decided we needed to have a little baking competition for our home schooling that morning. We had a lot of fun with it. Zander made sugar swirl cookies, Anri made Peanut Butter Kiss cookies, and I made Rice crispy treats (with American marshmallows). They were all delicious but I think I won J