Musings of the Past, Present and Future ..

Kia ora lovelies!

I thought I would do a broad update to start the New Year off with, I apologise in advance if it seems all over the place!

What’s been on my mind and heart quite a bit recently is;

I am being constantly reminded about no longer focusing on who I was in the past, but to trust in God’s love and acceptance of me as I am, past mistakes and all. This amazes me to think He loves me completely and whole-ly as I am!!

I’ve always had a perfectionist streak in me which at times can be quiet crippling. I am continually finding myself challenged to find my value and worth in my being and not my doing; to not place my worth on whether I complete something perfectly.

Which seems to be an ideal opposite to mainstream culture which encourages people to find their worth in their careers, their wealth, their possessions, and not simply in the fact that they are human beings. Its quiet sad really, imagine how much more loving the world would be if it didn’t focus it’s worth on such superficial things??

This year is probably going to be one full of quiet a lot of foundational changes for me, which is very exciting but also quiet scary! I didn’t move back home for the summer for the first time an am now permanently living in Auckland. Such a grown up lol. I’m in a new flat which is working out really really well, such a blessing! I’m appreciating more and more hanging around with people you can just be real with and know they aren’t judging you.

I’m also starting placement for my counselling degree, very very scary!! Wah! But I’ve decided to trust that my lecturer’s believe I’m ready and to step out J

My goal this year is to work a lot more my personal growth and to get to know myself and who I am, and what I think about things, so a lot of Jess Dates I think J

I recently saw a friend post this verse on facebook which I think sums up my dreams and hopes for this year nicely:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

- Isaiah 43:18-19

This year is a year full of possibilities and opportunities which I plan to take advantage of! Very exciting stuff!

I hope everyone is having a beautiful New Year and had a fantastic Christmas, despite the crazy weather of late. I had a nice Christmas, it was so good to hang out with the family, I really do miss them, and they’re such a great bunch!

I’m really looking forward to heading home for a week or more over my birthday – to breath in some country air again and slow the pace down few notches J

I’ll leave you with my favourite photo from this Christmas – me with my Grandad – Love him to bits!

& one of my all time favourite verses...

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future.”

- Jeremiah 19:11

Peace & love,

Jess xx

Thankful..

Hi everyone :)

I have recently had it on my heart to sit down and think about all the things I am thankful for, all the things I have been so generously blessed with...So I thought I would make a list...

I am thankful for family... for all the joy they bring into my life, for their constant love. For knowing that my parent's are just a phone call away. I am thankful that my parents are still here and in my life, because I realise that not all are so lucky..

I am thankful that God has blessed me with two amazing pets. I am thankful that when it came time for them for pass, I was able to be there, to spend time saying goodbye.

I'm thankful for Barty Baby, being my hot water bottle for 14 winters, for cuddles on the couch.

I am thankful for a beautiful natured dog, Samson. Who protected our family for 13 1/2 years. He would always greet you at the door with excited bouncing and tail wagging. Who would wonder into your room in the mornings for a morning pat and maybe lick your hand. Who would lay his head on your lap if he sensed you were upset..

R.I.P beautiful beautiful souls! xx

I am thankful for the blessing of amazing,beautiful, loving, incredible friends!

You know who you are..

For the new friends I have been blessed with this year, Te Au Peeps & counselling buddies. You all make my life so much richer!

I'm thankful for the old friends who stay and encourage me. Who have showed so much love over the years.

I am truly soo blessed with so many loving, awesome friends!

Amazing people who are such examples of love.

I am so thankful for the blessing of creativity. In particular, incredible music which can provide so much comfort and inspiration. For the giving a soundtrack and words to my life.

So thankful for the gift of painting, and the expression and calm it gives me. It is truly and awesome blessing.




(Just a note this isn't one of my paintings)




I think it is so important when times of hardships and pain, to remember the blessings in your life; To hold onto Hope, to not give up. To take care of yourself and what you need in that time.

This is just a few of the things I am thankful for.

I am so thankful for all the things God has blessed me with in my life.

I keep being reminder of Jill Phillips' song; "If anything matters at all, then everything matters".

I hope everyone is well, I'll leave you with one last thought from Anne Frank..

Blessings Jess xx

Sunshine

Aloha everyone!

Yesterday I sacrificed a much needed sleep in (I have block course all week which is class from 8:30am -5pm, intense!) to meet my beautiful parent's at the Auckland Airport for a catch up, while they waited for friends to fly in. Even though it was an early start, it was such a gorgeous day in Auckland and the perfect day for sitting outside with a coffee!

I couldn't get over how beautiful the sunshine is and the amazing effect it can have on your mood. It had me in awe of God's creation! I was driving over the Onehunga Wharf with One Tree Hill in the distance, the sky tower on one side, the sea on the other, with sun streaming in while I listened to some chilled out music and headed back to uni for class. What bliss! I even had a Vanilla Coke which always reminds me of summer! Especially summer at the Mount!

Maybe it's the Vitamin E? that the sun gives you that has such an uplifting effect or maybe it's something about being more in touch with nature and what that may personally mean to you. But I just love being in the sun, it can be so therapeutic.

Feeling so peaceful, and being reminded so much of summer, made me think of the Kaimai Ranges back home, which you can see from my bedroom!

Since moving to Auckland, the Kaimai's have come to represent a lot to me, it is my symbol of home and all that comfort that holds.

Last semester when we were looking at Te Whare Tapa Wha in class, which is the four-sided house, a wholistic approach to being. The spiritual, physical, family and mental health of someone that is rooted in their land. In someways I have come to see the Kaimai's as the representation of my land, and where I come from, it's where I started into this world, it's where I became Christian and it's where I return to for comfort, it's where my parent's are.

So I thought I would share some photo's I've found of the beautiful Kaimai's and some of my home. Sorry I don't have any photo's of the view from my room, I don't own a digital camera, though I am attempting to remedy this soon! Being such a visual person I find it hard not being able to capture moments or important people to me, myself.

These two photo's each capture a part of the Kaimai's, I dream of one day being able to photograph the whole of the Kaimai Ranges, but I'm not sure that is possible because they stretch the whole of width of Matamata!

The above photo is a view from Te Poi.

The bottom two are photo's I took a few years ago, from my home. I just love it!

This is nearly the view from one of my bedroom windows and on a clearer day you can see the Kaimai's behind the trees.

I find it amazing how much nature is constantly changing and growing, just like us in a lot of ways, yet still beautiful no matter what stage of change, full of flowers and life or naked and barren; it still has such distinct beauty that is so hard to replicate.

Anyways, that is my little ramble about nature. :)

Blessings, Jess xx

"A woodland in full color is awesome as a forest fire, in magnitude at least, but a single tree is like a dancing tongue of flame to warm the heart."
- Hal Borland

Holidays Are Over...

Hello there beautiful people! :)

Well, my nearly a month long holiday is over, and man did it go fast!

These holidays:

* I discovered what Red Velvet Cupcakes were like,

* Decided I really like the odd glass of red wine,

* Moved into a tiny room which made me realise I have too many clothes, that I don't really wear..

* Spent a week at home and wished it was longer,

* Have met a whole new bunch of lovely people at the Laidlaw halls, where I moved into

* Tried Crepes, yum!

* Have decided I quite like listening to old music, like the stuff from my Grandad's era, such as Judy Garland

* Met up and hang out with a fair few of my closest friends

* Google Map's failed me, and I got lost in West Auckland trying to find a friend's new flat,

* Discovered a heap of new blogs

* It made me really happy that I got to spend the holidays reading whatever I felt like blogs to theological books, to some chick lit, to magazines

* Went shopping a scored some great bargins, yay! A belt for $2 whup!

* Also went on a bush walk near Huia Beach, so beautiful! I felt like a pro, climbing down a bank to look at what looked like a little waterfall but turned out to be a drain :-/ and stone hopping across a river. So fun!

* Discovered Strawberry Green Tea, soo good!

* And saw the last EVER Harry Potter movie! I enjoyed it but still think I prefer the books. I actually realised that Harry Potter ending, kinda ends a major part of my childhood that I spent waiting for the next Harry Potter....It is all over now, kinda sad really, nothing new left to be discovered!

I start back at class at 9am tomorrow, that is going to be a shock to the system! But I am looking forward to getting back into it. I'm excited and hopeful about the knowledge and growth this semester is promising! It is also excited that at the end of it it is going to be Summer! Yay! My favourite season. Can't wait! :-D

One down side to my holidays would have to be that I didn't have a chance to paint anywhere near as much as I had hoped, with being so busy organising moving and then unpacking. Painting just seemed to slip to the wayside. Sometime this year I started to keep a folder of images that I liked and inspired me, I thought I would share them with you. :)

I especially love the softness achieved in these pictures/paintings and really hope to be able to achieve the same effect in some of my art work.

Enjoy!

This is a little thought provoker from one of my readings for class last semester,

“What we do know from personal experience is how to scramble after what we think is our best shot at personal fulfilment. We all seek a way of being that will lead to happiness. The reality is, however, that not all routes are equally authentic. If there is a way of being that is true to my deepest self, then there are also many other ways that are false.”

(The Gift of Being yourself,p.75, DG Benner & MB Pennington)

Jess xx

Hi Again! :)

Wow, has it been a busy last month!

So sorry I haven't had a chance to sit down and post lately.

The last few weeks of course before the mid-year break was quite intense. Had what felt like an endless pile of essays due and then had to study for a 2 and half hour exam which was four essays. Man, was my hand sore at the end, haven't physically written that much for a long while.

But so far I am pretty happy with my marks, which is awesome. Haven't been able to say that about a Semester for awhile. Definitely think I made the right choice changing courses.

I don't know what it is, maybe it's Murphy's Law, but I caught one of the worst colds I've had for a long time during the first week of the holidays, definitely was not happy. But seem to be on the mend now. Thank goodness.

How has everyone's holidays been? I hope everyone has been having a lovely start to the winter, even though the rain here has been horrible!

A few weeks ago, I finally got to try Red Velvet Cupcakes from Petal's cafe in Ponsonby, sooo sooo goood! But sooo sweet, there's noway you need more than one. They had buttermilk icing. Yum! You should totally try them sometime, you can even get messages printed on them and deliver them to that special someone :)

I was recently introduced to ASOS fashion and am currently waiting with batted breath for these beauties to arrive! Can't wait! They were so cheap, especially when you add the free postage and packaging from England. Woohoo.

I hope everyone is doing fantastically. I can't wait until next week when I can sit down and just chill out until next semester. Will post again soon.

Love Jess xx

Keep Calm and Make Tea

Hi there!

I hope everybody had a fabulous weekend like me! :)

I got to spend some time at home and then two of my lovely friends came up and danced the night away. Love it. I have come to the realisation I do not let my hair down enough these days, partly because course is so time consuming. But I shall endeavour to relax a little bit more often I think.

Anybody who knows me knows that I have a slight (like tiny, honestly) obsession with tea. The thought of a cup of tea honestly is what gets me out of bed most mornings. Again I say only slight. lol

I stumbled on to some amazingly gorgeous little tea cups when I was image searching for a painting I started the other day and I just had to share a couple:

I was lucky enough to receive a few gorgeous tea cup sets from my Grandad last year and I got one very similar to the one below, that just makes me wish I was born back in the 1500's, so I could live in such a gorgeous little cottage!

There were some pretty lovely tea pots too!

I wish I had this one to add to my China Cabinet!

I love the detail of the flowers on this one

As well as some "what that??" moments....

I now know which rings I next want to add to my jewellery collection, they're so awesome!

I just LOVE this quote! I think I'm going to print it off and stick it on my wall. lol

Soooo true though nothing like nutting out problems over a cupa with a good friend.

I hope everyone's week's go well. Mine is looking to be insanely busy and tiring with 3essays due in the next two weeks.

I'll leave you with a little gem of a quote I like :) xx

"A good friend allows you a safe space to share your deepest thoughts and needs without worry of being judged, criticized or made to feel silly for feeling the way you do. Friends cheer each other on, laugh and cry together, and just plain commiserate and listen to each other.

That's why friends are friends....

Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."

Hellooo :)

I'm Jessica, nice to meet you...how do you do?

I've decided to try my hand at the art of blogging, I follow a few very good blogs and have found myself wishing to have a turn at voicing myself.. So here I am :)

I'm from a small rural town in the big Waikato, NZ, called Matamata. About two years ago I first moved up to Auckland city to live on the top of Queen Street. Was quiet a shock to the system to say the least - moving from a country village the main street of Auckland!

But after persevering up here, changing a job or two, the degree I'm studying towards, as well as making some pretty awesome new friends, I am starting to call Auckland home.

A few of my loves:

I like nothing more than to relax with a book and a cup of tea. It's my preferred way of starting the day, I actually get up half an hour earlier than I need to just for this reason.

I love love love to be creative and the peace I feel when I paint is nothing I can describe.

I absolutely love all of my friends and always try to make the effort to stay in touch with them, they are such a blessing in my life.

I have recently started studying at the Theological College, Laidlaw, which has been an amazing, but sometimes overwhelming experience. I was raised a Christian and have believed in Christ my whole life, but this year, I can truly see my faith and the way I live it out being challenged. Laidlaw has given me an hunger to truly get to know my Yahweh (Lord God). I hope to share parts of this journey with you.

I also have to admit one of my fave procrastinator's (apart from f.b) is looking at fashion, I love it! I also hope to share some of my discoveries with you.

So that is just a little insight into who I am as Jessica Esther Dobson, I hope everybody has a lovely weekend!

Jess xx