Our Wonderful National Anthem

I love our National Anthem:

God of nations! at Thy feet 

In the bonds of love we meet, 

Hear our voices, we entreat, 

God defend our Free Land. 

Guard Pacific's triple star, 

From the shafts of strife and war, 

Make her praises heard afar, 

God defend New Zealand 

Men of ev'ry creed and race 

Gather here before Thy face, 

Asking Thee to bless this place, 

God defend our Free Land. 

From dissension, envy, hate, 

And corruption guard our State, 

Make our country good and great, 

God defend New Zealand. 

Peace, not war, shall be our boast, 

But, should foes assail our coast, 

Make us then a mighty host, 

God defend our Free Land. 

Lord of battles in thy might, 

Put our enemies to flight, 

Let our cause be just and right, 

God defend New Zealand. 

Let our love for Thee increase, 

May Thy blessings never cease, 

Give us plenty, give us peace, 

God defend our Free Land. 

From dishonour and from shame 

Guard our country's spotless name 

Crown her with immortal fame, 

God defend New Zealand. 

May our mountains ever be 

Freedom's ramparts on the sea, 

Make us faithful unto Thee, 

God defend our Free Land. 

Guide her in the nations' van, 

Preaching love and truth to man, 

Working out Thy Glorious plan, 

God defend New Zealand. 

Maori Words 

E Ihoa Atua, 

O nga Iwi Matoura, 

Ata whaka rongona; 

Me aroha noa. 

Kia hua ko te pai; 

Kia tau to atawhai; 

Manaakitia mai 

Aotearoa 

Ona mano tangata 

Kiri whero, kiri ma, 

Iwi Maori Pakeha 

Repeke katoa, 

Nei ka tono ko nga he 

Mau e whakaahu ke, 

Kia ora marire 

Aotearoa 

Waiho tona takiwa 

Ko te ao marama; 

Kia whiti tona ra 

Taiawhio noa. 

Ko te hae me te ngangau 

Meinga kia kore kau; 

Waiho i te rongo mau 

Aotearoa 

Tona pai me toitu; 

Tika rawa, pono pu; 

Tona noho, tana tu; 

Iwi no Ihoa. 

Kaua mona whakama; 

Kia hau te ingoa; 

Kia tu hei tauira; 

Aotearoa 

Easter is nearly here.

Easter is a special time of the year for my son and I and a lot of my friends. To us its about Jesus the Son of God dying on the cross and then His Resurrection. He took our sin's to the cross so that we are no longer bound by them and can live in freedom and liberty. If you ever want to know more just drop me a line.

I love baking, its no secret! So Easter is when a favourite of mine appears... HOT CROSS BUNS!

My beautiful baking goddess friend from I Want... posted a recipe on her facebook page that I just had to try! Here are the results!

Here is her official website. http://www.iwantcupcakes.co.nz/

B-B

Observations and Ponderings

In the mornings I usually do my exercise after I drop Master 8 off at school. Walking is my normal form of physical fitness. I'm blessed to live by a fabulous mountain. This is the view from the top.

Anywho while I'm walking through the bush up and down the trek its a great time to think and ponder, pray and petition, laugh and wonder. I love the tree's and being in the bush and breathing in the clean air and absorb it into my soul. It's my soul food and my spirit has definitely lifted since we moved to our new house. On a particular trek I end up on the other side of the mountain and end up walking along some streets. I find it  interesting walking past people houses and the busy-ness of the main road. So different from being up the mountain. And I guess another weird observation I have made is walking past people's rubbish and recycling bins. I'm observant (nosey) by nature. I glance in on my way past and I see abit about this person's lifestyle. Something that made me think was the amount of alcohol thats been consumed by some people. Recycling bins full of beer bottles usually. Not all people just some. It made me sad. My relationship with alcohol has had its ups and downs but its all down to personal choice really isn't it? So why does seeing these beer bottles etc make me sad? I suppose its the thought that if  you have to consume so much does that mean that person is missing something in their life? Do they have kids? Are they by themselves? Could they be buying food instead of so much drink? Is it my business anyway? Mixture of all of that I suppose. 

As a family we were on the receiving end of alcohol abuse so I know first hand how it effects you, that's a part of my concern. Mum never had enough money because she wasn't the bread winner, dad was, but he would drink. Yet some how that wonderful woman kept us all fed and clothed and loved.

I have a better understanding around alcohol now then I did back then. Its not the drink that makes a drunk, its the drunk who consumes too much drink. Its like that old saying, 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people'.  I still think that people have to be responsible for their choices and how those effect other people. Lets face it its not just alcohol that people over consume, its food, its work, its internet use, its drugs etc etc. These all have a flip side that effect our community.

The other weekend I went to a mate's dad's exhibition on Human Rights at the Old Library Gallery (Te Gallery). There was some thought provoking photographs on display. Go have a look if you have time. 

Some thoughts I left with after viewing the photo's were, 'If we want to have rights then we also have to accept that we have responsibilities too'. We can't just expect to get things without giving too. We live in relationship with each other on varying degree's.
Another thought I left with was people have the right to freedom yet some of our community live bound in prison in different kind such as poverty and abuse.
So what does that all have to do with walking through the bush and observing someone's recycling? Well I'm not sure really but we don't live an isolated life. God made us for relationship with each other. Do I have a heart for my community? What does God want me to do with my new thoughts? Am I Light and Salt to those around me? Man I hope so! Its a journey to more self-awareness and doing those things that God wants me to do. Hmm things to think about....

B-B