Food For Thought - Love

Being back in Hawkes Bay for the last few days, forcing myself to relax and not much more have given me a chance to think about a lot of things in life and to value and appreciate my life in Matamata with my friends and family. 

While catching up with a friend/spiritual mentor this afternoon, I was challenged by a few things she had said. 

One particular piece of "Food for Thought" that came up during our discussion was related to the topic of love. Through this conversation, I was reminded of the idea to constantly be praying for love for our friends and family, in all times, in all situations, in all circumstances - praying for love from ourselves, from others and from our Heavenly Father to pour down on those people. 

The truth is that God/Jesus always shows his love for us as human beings, he always cares for us and he always wants the best for us. There are times in our lives when we most certainly deserve not like the love and care God provides for us yet he freely gives it to us. There are times in life when things may not go the way we want them to and we think people in our lives deserve things accept love from us. 

We are created in God's image and therefore we are like him - we are encouraged to be like Christ, which means showing love and care for those who often may not deserve it (in our own opinion) yet they still need it. 

I guess the message in all of this is, Christ shows love for us when we don't think he could or should - we should pay it forward and do the same for other. It is certainly not an easy task and is much easier said than done but a little love in this world today can make a major difference in someone's life. 

Statement of Completion

As I write this post, I sit here in the lounge of my parents house in the sunny Hawkes Bay and think back over the year that 2012 has been - what a journey. I also think about the last three years and how much I have grown and learnt in this time - moving out of home certainly can teach you a lot about yourself, your family, your dreams and aspirations and your life. 

Three years ago, I was in Nelson with my family having just completed and graduated from a six month course at Wellington Nannies College. I had spent six months living with a family of five (three children and parents) and had been looking after three children under 5, for two - three days a week, as well as working with another family 2 days a week and studying one day. I had no idea where my future was heading, what I was going to be doing, where I was going to be living, who my friends would be etc.

Fast forward three years and I sit here as a married lady, in a house I did not grow up in (but fully feels like home) with a Statement of Completion from the University of Waikato, addressed to me in recognition of achieving and completing my Bachelor of Teaching. 

A Statement of Completion? Does that mean I have really done it? Does that mean all of my hard work will have paid off and I will finally be able to walk across the stage, receive my degree and be a 'real teacher'? It most certainly does and the fact that I have received a statement of completion also means that this three years of my life is the end of a chapter. It has been a fantastic chapter in which I have come to appreciate and value so much of what I have in my life and a chapter in my life where I have been blessed to have the love and support of family, friends, colleagues. 

I am sure this is the chapter in my life where I have made the most mistakes, where I have failed the most, where I have made the worst attempts at tasks, where I have felt like giving up and dropping out, and where I have procrastinated the most. However, looking at this 'Statement of Completion' right next to me and thinking about how much my life has progressed during this time, I am also sure this is the chapter in my life where I have had the most positive choices, where I have had the most success, where I have made the most amazing attempts at tasks, where I have carried on when I have felt like giving up and where I have....learnt how to use facebook and other internet websites?!?!?

This Statement of Completion is not just a piece of paper that tells me I have passed and can apply to graduate, it is a piece of paper that is symbolic of the last three years of my life, the journey I have been on, the ups and downs I have faced, the people I have experienced life with, the opportunities I have had and the education I have received. It is a piece of paper that is symbolic of the ending of a chapter in my life, the starting  of a new chapter in my life, the beginning of a career, the crossing of the finish line and the endless amounts of memories created during this time.

What is it that you are going through in your life that you would love a 'Statement of Completion' for? Where is the finish line for you and are you close to crossing that finish line? 

Walking across the stage, dressed in a cap, gown and hood and receiving my degree from Jim  Bolger (or whoever actually passes us the degrees , is the one thought that has kept me going this whole time - it is one of the dreams I have wanted to accomplish and one of the dreams that I now will officially accomplish on April 17th, 2013 at 2:00pm. 

What are your dreams in life and what is helping you on your way to accomplishing those dreams? 

The finish line is in sight

Written before Dec 7th 2012 -  Preparing for my final week of practicum.... 

It has indeed been a long three years of study, working towards my Bachelor of Teaching however the best part about all of it is that the finish line is in sight and now I am able to prepare to celebrate the major accomplishment with family and friends.

This week I finish my final week of my final ever teaching practicum and my gosh, it is starting to feel amazing. I have one (hopefully) more evaluative visit from a lecturer to check that everything can be signed off and then it is all complete and I will be jumping for joy. 

I will be sad to say goodbye once again to a large number of people who have influenced my life and teaching career over the last 5-6 weeks but am looking forward to what lies ahead. 

I can finally say that the finish line is in sight and my future is looking bold and bright now that I almost have a degree.  Less than 5 days to go and it will all be OVER!!!

Christmas this year....

I find it hard to believe that as I sit here and type this, it is the middle/end of December and I am wondering the usual thing of where on earth 2012 has gone. Is it really Christmas week or am I in a dream? As much as I would love to be dreaming right now, unfortunately reality is knocking on the door. 

The Christmas period this year involves the usual crazy time of travelling here, there and everywhere, spending time with family and friends and relaxing as much as possible before Nat starts work again on December 27th. 

Family are so precious and valuable and the family we are born with (and the family we marry into) are the only true family we will ever have. Even though you may not always enjoy being with family or appreciate the comments and thoughts of some family members, it is vital to value the time you have with those family members. 

It is so easy during the Christmas period to get caught up in all the drama and commercialism of the season. I do not like to admit it but I know that often my mind cna be elsewhere at times like this and I do not really pay attention to what family members are saying to me while I spend time with them. I also get fairly easily annoyed with family members when their "true colours" shine as I am sure we have all experienced at some point in time and often say things which I later would rather I could take them back. 

Although Christmas for us this year will involve a whole lot of travelling backwards and forwards between cities and regions, and we know in advance we will be tired and hot, exhausted and more, my goal is to value and attempt to appreciate the time that I will be spending with my family and friends. 

Life is an amazing gift we have been given but the strange thing about life is that we do not know what tomorrow holds - we never know what we will happen on a road trip on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, nor do we know if there will be people with guns who will just walk into an elementary school and shoot people just before Christmas. We do not know when our last day could be or when we could possibly see our family again - hence this Christmas, as I have already said, my goal is to enjoy, appreciate and be present with the time that I spend with my family and friends. 

Enjoy Christmas and stay posted to see the journey our lives take near the end of 2012 and continuing in 2013, God willing. 

Love and blessings to all,

Kathryn (and Nathaniel)