5.48 PM A brotherly valentine from my favourite little brother, Luke. Aw shucks. Best friends and little brothers winning me over : 2 Overtly romantic gestures from potential soulmates : 0 Minutes spent smiling anyway : 24 and counting.
5.30 PM A Valentine! Flowers and a balloon from the most gorgeous 6 year old boy I know. Sure, his mum bought the flowers, but he carried them and chose the colours.
1.34 PM Nothing to report and about to leave for a meeting in Penrose. Definitely unlikely to find any valentines there.
12.29 PM Valentines delivered: 0 Boxes of CDs delivered from australian band Mark The Sky: 1 (CDs = 3) Number of deliveries currently being counted as Valentines: 1
Nothing else to report.
10.51 AM Not to limit his creativity just to “made in NZ” care packages, Si just climbed out the kitchen window and around to my office window, whereupon he drew flowers & a V-Day card on the glass with whiteboard markers. Unfortunately we caught him in the act, so it was less of a surprise and more watching a master at work.
10.27 AM Read blogpost to officemates. Simon says “Oh.. Happy Valentines Tash!”. Is now disappointed that the rest of the world nows he took the cheap and easy option. In other news, Si’s Valentines gift was well received on the other side of the world where it really counts. Made the mother cry, we are very proud.
10.26 AM Nothing to report, not even from the coffee guy. Huh.
9.50 AM Nothing to report.
7.10 AM Wished Happy Valentines to Jayden on our way back to Akld.
We are about to be leaping into bright horizons and future growth stuff. Exciting, terrifying times. Eastercamp is into full swing, Parachute is next week. I’ve still got 13 kilos to lose in 9 weeks. I’ve been on diet holiday for a few weeks but all that is over now, it’s time to finish this Esther year.
Tonight driving home, all of a sudden I came across a line of road cones blocking the road. Someone’s idea of a funny joke, which was entertaining.
Tonight prior to driving home, I was at music practice. There is a sense to which I love and hate being a volunteer. I’m glad that I have a lot of life left, so that maybe one day, I will have enough hours to do all the things I feel like I want to.
It’s hard work playing for the morning team, because they all work like individuals. There’s no team, no making of music together, just a collection of parts. It’s not really music, just a sound generator.
at thirty thousand feet clear skies open it clarifies my head and heart again and lately when i’m stuck up here i keep thinking of you, what you’re up to twenty six days and thirty two of these airborne hours to go
i’m so far east and west of you it crystallizes everything i knew spirit in me calling for you i wrote you a good letter, told you truth ‘cept i didn’t know how true it was til i got home to you
that i am blessed, blessed i confess that i am beyond my portion my cup overflows
Christmas And New Year Celebrations Christmas week went by in a blur of activity and preparations, church productions, rehearsals and gatherings. There were swimming nights by the pool for music team end of year, late night gatherings for spas and drinks at my place, last minute rehearsals, shopping and busyness. There was lots of working that all needed to get done in the last few minutes before the year broke it’s back on Dec 24th. It’s such a hectic and ridiculous pace of life before everything pauses as if the world stops turning for a moment. Where were the rhythms of life that I was so desperately needing?
So… here are the highlights of the last two weeks.. in no apparent order..
1. seeing the production come together with an incredibly talented bunch of people that all took personal ownership for various bits and pieces and showcased themselves as a really great team. they didn’t even need me on the final night!
2. creating traditions with a team of musicians that love one another well. even if those traditions do include throwing people in the pool. sharing wise and encouraging words with one another. feeling completely immersed in a deep deep love with these wonder-full people.
3. admitting that i’ve always had a thing for cowboys and seeing all the band dressed up with hats and moustaches included for the show.
4. giving Luke the perfect Christmas gift, a little drum of his own to beat.
5. talking to roni, uncle john & aunt val and my darling Danielle on Christmas Day.
6. missing my community desperately on Christmas Eve and relishing how much we’ve grown together that I could feel that way!
7. driving up north and watching the sunset as I travelled over the Brynderwyn hills on Christmas Day, enjoying being alone, being with God and anticipating days spent under summer skies with dear friends.
8. the joy of communal living – preparaing meals, doing dishes, eating, sleeping, resting, laughing and playing together.
9. the comfortable ache of loneliness now that it’s all done.
10. the best christmas gift was perfect because it was so unexpected, so well thought out and speaks to my heart, my head and my ears… dave matthews & tim reynolds live at radio city on dvd… thanks mark. x.
11. the perfect balance of people, solitude, silence, noise over the days at the beach. view photos here
12. laughing, dancing and celebrating the new year.. view photos here.
What’s Next? Working today and tomorrow, then heading to Soul Survivor where I’m speaking a seminar or two and hanging out with a couple of young guys from church.
Tash McGill is a broadcaster, writer and strategist who works with people and organisations to solve problems and create transformation. She believes people are the most important thing and that stories are powerful ways of changing the world. You can find out more at tashmcgill.com or by visiting her LinkedIn profile.
