the end beginning

So we find ourselves at the end of another year. On the very precipice of something new. A new year holds so much promise and possiblity. There is no past yet, only 365 days new experiences, lessons and life abundant. Who knows what's in store?
For me, a new year usually brings something of a new chapter in my life and this year is no exception. I've completed my university qualification and graduated and am now looking for my very first 'real job'. As exciting as that is, it's also really daunting. It's a new season in my life. A season that means I have to leave the old, familiar one behind and start one that I can't see past the bend in the road. Yet it's times that these that I hold His hand just that little bit tighter because I can't do it on my own. And His faithfullness is great, with strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Here's to new seasons. Happy New Year!

a christmas post

I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas. I suppose that sounds like such a terrible statement, but hear me out. By the time you've finished reading this you may even agree with me. Who knows.

I love Christmas because it's a celebration and I love celebrations. More importantly, it's a celebration of the greatest gift our Father in heaven ever gave us - his son. I can't even imagine what that would be like and even trying to get myself into that kind of headspace is just bewildering. My comprehension at his sacrifice is humbling. The Father's sacrifice of his son and the Son's sacrifice of his life. How could he choose that? I mean, I love those that I love but dying for them when they have wronged and hurt me causes serious hesitation. Simply said, I don't deserve what He did for me. That is why I love Christmas. Because even though I don't deserve forgiveness, he still chose to come in human form, experience humanity and die in my stead. How mindblowing.

But I hate Christmas because of what has been lost in the meaning of why we celebrate. I hate that gifts, shopping and a man in a red suit have become the reason that so many people love the Christmas season. And I hate that so many have forgotten to celebrate what He did for us. I'm so saddened to realize that for many people around the world, they don't know the reason why we celebrate.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. May the revelation of what God did for us at Christmas resonate throughout the coming year. Enjoy the celebration with all that it entails!

there and back again

Gasp! It has been more than a month since I last posted anything in my corner of cyberspace. Almost enough time to possibly find the end of the world and fall off it. But thankfully, no. Despite my absence, I'm finally home for enough time to actually find the time to put my fingers to a keyboard and type something. If you've been wondering what I've been up to during the last five weeks...well, actually, I can't fit it all in here. It would get boring after awhile. Needless to say, I've been on holiday with my wonderful cousin, aunt and mother. We've enjoyed each others company tremendously and have done a seriously healthy amount of laughing! Funny, we're not sick of each other yet [I'm not sure others (more specifically, onlookers) would say the same]. Anycase, here's hoping the gap between now and my next post won't be so long. In the meantime, here's a few snapsnots of my adventures:

Notice anything wrong with my helmet?? Title of my post ring any bells? Travelling in a car can sometimes be pretty monotonous. We did a bit of reading to while the time:)

this is a public service announcement:

Jo-Ann is currently away on a much needed, much anticipated break to a place where the sun shines and where good times and laughs are mandatory.

She will be back in twelve days with memories, pictures and hopefully, a tan!

a peek into my week

Hello and welcome:-) I'm so glad you're here. If you found me via YLCF, thank you for taking the time to stop by:-) I thought I'd give a little bit of background before diving in. First off, if you'd like to read a little about who I am beforehand, you're welcome to go to the 'about' page first then come back and read this. It might put a few things into context. Or not, that's fine too. Also, I found out about this last Tuesday and thought I might as well write about the week as it was happening. I (hopefully) didn't include any boring details, but for the most part, I've pretty much highlighted each days events as they were being lived. So this is a typical, non-typical week for me. Enjoy!

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Monday 25th October:

The 25th of October in New Zealand is a public holiday. Nice for some. I didn't get much of a holiday out of it. I spent most of the day working on an assignment. I got it done then headed across town to drop it off and when I got onto campus, found out that all the buildings were locked. Dah, it's a public holiday. Still, my outline has the 25th as the due date. I go to the library, which is the only place that's open (and quite busy as a result) and find out that it's acceptable to hand the assignment the next day (today actually, as I'm writing on Tuesday). So I head back home and procrastinate a bit before getting on with the next assignment. Did I mention that it's due on Tuesday? It was a late night. I did manage to spend a little bit of time hanging out in the garden where my parents spent the day and took some nice photos. Here are a few:

Tuesday 26th October:

So it's Tuesday and I've finished the assignment that's meant to be handed in today. I drive to university and half-way there I realize I forgot the other one that I tried to hand in yesterday at home. So I turn around and go back to pick it up. A quick dash in the house and I'm back on the road. I get to uni and log on to the computer so I can print the assignment out and find out I didn't save it in the right format and have to go back home to print it. Why didn't I just do that in the first place??? Anyway, I hand it in and YAY, two less things on the brain that gets worried over! Did I mention that I've got another one due...tomorrow! Better get crack-a-lacking!

Wednesday 27th October:

I woke up this morning with the majority of my assignment still to do. I went to bed early last night cause I had a splitting headache. 300 words done with 1200 minimum left to write. Thankfully I was prepared and had a plan so I sat down and wrote the remainder in three hours. Add the two from last night and that's a total of five hours to complete an assignment start to finish. Now, I know what you're thinking. How can she possibly write a 1500 word assignment like that in five hours? Well folks, ordinarily I wouldn't but this one was a report that was entirely based on my own opinion and results from an project that I had to undertake. The work was done. It just needed to be written up. Thus, five short hours of work and it was ready to be handed in. And here it is:

Keep in mind that I had to blur it on purpose because of the details on the page. But there you go. This is a monumental moment right here. Why, you ask? Because it's the very last assignment I ever have to hand in. Ever. No more. And I am celebrating tonight. And we're having ice cream sundaes at bible study tonight. What convenient timing! Could my day get any better?

Thursday 28th October:

Thursday = a good day. Early start today but it didn't matter. My lovely mother and I had a coffee this morning in the mall before it got busy and I bought one of these:

I had a class then popped into the computer room before I left campus and bumped into a friend. How lovely. I love when I bump into friends unexpectantly. It made my already good day even better. I went into town and paid a visit to the library to find some books about how to play the ukulele. Then I drove to the other side of town because I had a long overdue hair appointment. And I was a very happy girl when I walked out of there!

Friday 29th October:

As you can imagine, I spent the day playing with my new toy! And I bought some canvas for a little project I'm starting soon. I'm planning a separate post for that. (Don't hold me to it, but within the next two weeks) And I also went out to dinner with my family and good family friends who are moving away in a few weeks. It was a lovely evening out with lots of memorable moments:-) Like my mother giving greek dancing and the limbo a go! Haha, good times.

Saturday 30th October:

It's been a day of chores. My list of to-dos include:

- washing (and lots of it)

- fold the washing

- a general clean-up of my room

- vacuum the house

and I know that doesn't seem like a lot but I spent the day getting through that list because those chores have been neglected for awhile (especially the tidy room part)! My final week of university work has definitely taken precedence over chores! I also finally posted the contents of my bag. If you're curious.

Sunday 31st October:

Today my mother and I spent some time shopping for gifts for family whom we haven't seen in ages and are going to be visiting at the end of the month. Thankfully it wasn't too painful a search. You know how sometimes gifts are so incredibly difficult to buy for people when you're not sure what to get them?

And I went to church. What can I say? It was awesome!

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So there you have it. That was my week. If you've made it down this far, congrats! If you've made or are going to make a contribution to the Peek into Your Week at YLCF, I hope to read yours soon. (And if you're thinking about it - do it!) I have made it my mission to read every single one. I can't promise to comment on each but they will certainly all be read:-)