The story of us - Part 1

Once upon a time, in the late 1970s, a little boy was born in Middlemore Hospital. He was the fifth child born to his Samoan born mum. They lived in a suburb in South Auckland called Otara and he grew up happily there, surrounded by his three sisters and two brothers.

His family were a church going family and they attended a traditional Samoan church. He went to a high school in South Auckland but left school when he was 16 to start work. He did various jobs over the years, working in warehouses and courier driving.  

One day, when he was 18 years old, he saw a brochure advertising a Bible College at a church in the city. Wanting more for his life, he decided to enrol and for the next two years he studied there, and began attending that church. He got involved in the youth ministry and made some great friends.

Unexpected sources

Mr Samoa and I have been on quite a journey in the last four or so years. Actually, it's more like a rollercoaster that we've been on, sometimes leaving us thrilled with how things have turned out and other times taking all of our strength to lift our weary feet.

(Quick note for those who don't know: Mr Samoa has been studying for the last four and half years, and we've had both our kids in the middle of it all)

So when blessings appear from unexpected sources, we can only marvel at how God looks after us.

And breathe a sigh of relief.

Mr Samoa has been working part time while he's finishing his study at his old work. This work is in the alternative education sector so it's great during term time, but during holidays, well...you can't work when the students are on holiday, right?

So a couple of weeks back we were a little stuck. Bills and rent paid but food...well.....

One of my best friends was around one morning when I was trying to sort something out with Work and Income, a government department that can help with food. They were less than forthcoming. So my friend got on the phone to her friend (who does not know me) who had been in a similar situation when her husband was studying, to ask where she got help from when things got a little tough.

She said she would sort something out, asked for my address and hung up the phone. My friend and I thought she'd be sorting something through her church or one of the places she used to get help from.

The next day, this was delivered to my door:

WOW!

This awesome woman had paid for it herself. There must have been over $300 worth of groceries.

What a blessing this woman was to us! I hope to help someone else in the same way when Mr Samoa gets a job, pay it forward, you know?

Feeling: thankful!

Party time

My nephew turned 5 on Friday and due to the public holiday tomorrow, had his party on Saturday last week.

He's Lego mad so it was a Lego party, complete with a construction zone!

Here's a cute one of him with his 'girlfriend'

Stop! Turbo's in control

This poor bunny got roared at quite a bit by the kids

Great decorations

It's fun to balance Lego on my little cousin's head

Loving his cousin (who's not loving it at all)

 Forget Lego, we love cars

It was a great day! Well done, N, for all the organisation it took.

Dear Smiley

You are 8 months old today. Unfortunately, this day finds you sick again and you are on your third course of antibiotics in the 8 short months you've been alive. I tried to avoid them but you've been sick for a while and in the last few days, your cough has gotten worse.

Maybe that's why you don't sleep very well at night?

I wish you could tell me why!

In spite of the sickness, you are still a real happy little boy most of the time. Your smile lights up the room and you don't hesitate to bestow it on complete strangers too (from the comfort of Mummy's arms, of course).

You're a real Mummy's boy and would be happy to spend all day in my arms if you could. Recently you started to reach out for Daddy too which is nice for him. You LOVE cuddles and often bury your head in my shoulder or "kiss' me (open mouthed).

You're not crawling yet but you are really wanting to. When you're on your tummy, you manage to move yourself backwards. Two teeth have made their way through and another two are on the way.

Your big brother is very fond of you and loves to cuddle you, tickle you and try to carry you around. He still calls you bubba although we're trying to get him to call you your real name. Since having you, he has taken a real interest in dolls and puts them to sleep and cuddles them.

You still won't take a bottle and like your milk 'on tap'. You're now having three meals a day and starting to eat finger foods like bits of toast, crackers and fruit (and the odd biscuit).

Bathing is one of your favourite things to do. When you're tired and whiny at the end of the day, a bath calms you down. You love to splash! Music is another favourite and when you hear it, you kick your legs and flap your arms in excitement. You are no trouble to take out and can sit for hours in your stroller, taking in the world.

  

I could gaze for hours into your lovely chocolate brown eyes and give your velvety soft cheeks a thousand kisses a day.

You bring great joy to us, Smiley, and we love you so much.

Sadness

Been feeling low today. I found out a friend's baby passed away yesterday. 
I can only imagine the pain this little boy's parents and family must be feeling.

We're thinking of you, beautiful boy, that we never got to meet.

Please pray for the parents and family

At my house

This morning, once the it had stopped raining, we went to the library. I hauled out my not used much double stroller (I really should get out and walk more, but it has been winter), bundled up the boys and set out.


The library visit lasted five minutes. I picked the books. Turbo just wanted to move on.

After morning tea on one of the benches outside the library, we set off down the street with Turbo leading us. We're going for a walk, I thought. We passed the shops and headed towards a petrol station. Hmmmm. Past the petrol station and I began to realise where we were going.

He lead me to McDonalds! We've only been there a few times but obviously enough for him to know where it is. Darn. I bought him a 60c soft serve (I refused the request for chips...who wants to spent $2 when you can spend 60c?) and he explored the tunnels in the play ground.

Then afternoon naps for the kids...or should I say cat naps in Smiley's case. He still does not sleep more than 40 minutes at a time during the day. So we caught some sunshine on the trampoline and waited for Turbo to wake up.

Then Mr Samoa and I took the kids up to the mall, got a coffee and tried to catch up on his weekend (he'd been away). Turbo had other ideas and headed for the game zone. 'Spiders, frogs!' he said. There's this game where you shoot spiders and frogs. Great. So we just went with it and had coffee at the game zone. Still time spent together right?

Love my cool little family.

Join in or see what's happening at other houses here

My Turbo

My blog is named after my eldest son, Turbo, now two and a half.

He is spirited.

See the link on the right to see what I'm talking about. He is just MORE of everything. He lives life going 100km per hour, non-stop, all day. It is exhausting sometimes, but I understand what he needs (most of the time) and can try to meet those needs. Expecting him to sit still is unrealistic, even for a few minutes.

He is very strong. He can throw a ball straight and far, and has been able to jump and climb since he was quite little.

He  has funny quirks like not liking the feel of sand. Just try and get him into a sandpit. He can't stand having food on his face or hands, and has to have things 'just so'. He puts things in perfect lines, like the fridge magnets or his toy cars.

When he interacts with other kids, he ROARS, bellows, kicks his legs in excitement, punches the air, jumps on top of them if he has the chance.

As you can imagine, this is sometimes met with a not so positive look. I do my best to tell him to be gentle, to tell him the other kids may not like that and to step in when things get too much. But there's also the wisdom of letting Turbo be Turbo.

At a mall's play area on Saturday morning, a father, observing Turbo, asked me if there was another boy in the stroller (Smiley was sleeping in there with the cover on). I said yes, and then with a smile said "Help!" He smiled and said how full on Turbo was. And when I left, wished me luck in parenting my two boys!!

It made me smile. If I had been having a bad day, it could have made me cry.

I never want to get to the point where I feel I need to excuse Turbo for being who he is. I've felt that way often enough. "He's just excited; he's not being mean; Turbo, stop that; gentle, please"...I could go on.

Because, you see, Turbo is also lovely. He listens well, is intelligent, warm-hearted,

shares his lunch with other kids, and always has a smile to give. He is very sociable and often runs off to join in a game with kids he doesn't even know.

At Mainly Music, which he attends with his daycare, he has two or three best friends, all four years old, who adore him right back. And not by chance. He persisted to hug and wrestle them every week until he was accepted into their gang.

His zeal for life is contagious and the other little girl at daycare (it's a home care with him and one other girl), once shy and withdrawn, has completely come out of her shell and talks constantly about Turbo. They are very close and dote on each other.

He brings Mr Samoa and I great joy, along with great challenges too, of course.

My spirited baby.

My Turbo.

 I love you Turbo. You're the best.

Wordless Wednesday

Grateful for...

blue skies

and brown eyes



New friends

I met K at Rocket Park, right up the road from where I live. Smiley was just 6 weeks old and I was making one of my first outings with both boys by myself.

She was so friendly, just what I needed that day. Her cute son, 6 or so months younger than Turbo, played nearby and we chatted easily for almost an hour!

As I was packing up to leave, I thought I'd ask for her number. K was new to Auckland, and had moved up from Christchurch just 3 weeks earlier if I remember correctly.

She needs a friend, I thought. And not being once who believes in coincidences, I plucked up the courage and asked.

K hesitated and said she didn't remember her number because she recently got a new phone. How embarrassing, I thought, she SO doesn't want to hang out.

But she said she'd take my number and be in touch. Yeah right, I thought. Well, I tried.

A few weeks later K texted me and invited me over for morning tea!

She lives a few minutes drive from me, and the next week, there I was, hanging out with her.

We chatted easily again, and not once did we run out of things to say.

Turbo enjoyed playing with K's son, too.

And so, every couple of weeks since then, we've hung out.

We get on so well and instead of me being a blessing to her, she's been one to me. She's that type of person. Loving, warm and unselfish.

 So refreshing! Like lime juice.

How great is that? You step out, you might just make a great new friend in an unexpected place.

I don't have a photo of K. But maybe she'll let me take one next time.

Finally made it

I've finally made it to the computer. The house is a complete mess, there's loads of washing to be washed and folded, and dinner to cook. But I just have to write something. Pause.

Nothing comes to mind.

I have a head cold. You know those ones where your nose is completely blocked, so blocked you can't even sniff and you might as well not eat because you can't taste anything? My thoughts are fuzzy.

Let me try again.

I love the way this woman and this woman are getting real about marriage on their blogs. That's where Mr Samoa and I are at. It's a bit hard going at the moment. Constant tiredness, sickness all around, messy house, short fuses, and a bit of baggage coming to the forefront needing to be dealt with.

We've been 'away', staying at my parents house in the beautiful Mairangi Bay on the North Shore of Auckland while they were overseas. Beautiful beach, cafes, good weather. Sunhats out. Felt like a holiday. Which was good.

Cousins have been hanging out.

 Brothers have been showing their love.

Really needing a bit more of this:

That will have to be all for now. Over and out.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz