sold!

We sold our little house! We listed a week ago, had the first open home on Sunday afternoon and by 8pm that night it was signed, sealed and SOLD! I cried a little as this house is our first and holds so many memories.

The agent said the buyer fell in love with the house and made his offer as soon as he walked in. He's a single dad with a 13 year old son and so it's going to be a family home. Love that and love that he loves the house!

Can't believe it sold so fast and can't believe how insane the Auckland house market is. We plan to rent for a couple of years, sit on our nest egg (cluck cluck) and see what happens.

Happy days!

my crowning glory

“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 54: 1

We had a family shoot with these amazing photographers. They did my MIL's shoot and I loved their photos and they way they handled the kids, so booked them for my business shots and a family session.

They asked to use the kiddies as models last week (ummm yes!) and those photos are amazing. I can't wait to get copies of the images!

I highly recommend them and they have given me some vouchers to hand out to my clients or people like me. By that I mean, people who turn up on time and are polite. So if that's you, and of course it is, and you would use a voucher, say so in the comments and I will organise one for you x

dry run

Yesterday we sisters had a dry run for when news is really bad.

I was driving home on a high after having coffee with friends. My middle sister calls. Have I been on facebook she asks? No, was my reply. She starts sobbing. This is posted on facebook by my aunt....

Ruth is having all sorts of tests done to precisely identify the type of cancer cell. Depending on what it is, she will have a course of medication preceding the actual chemotherapy. Chemo is being given to reduce production of fluid and relieve discomfort and pain. She has stage 4 cancer - terminal. All treatment from now on is given to keep her comfortable. But God ......... Thank you for your prayer support. Bless you.

This is NOT what we had been told. We had been told that my Mom's cancer is inoperable but we are hopeful that treatment will at the very least extend her life indefinately. But we had no reason to doubt this post. This is my Mom's big sister, who is a hospice nurse and spoke to my Mom the day before.

I try my Mom's phone, the friend who is with her (in hospital while they drain the fluid in her chest cavity) and my Dad. No-one answers their phone. To be honest, I freaked out.

My middle sister comes over to my house and we are faced with a horrible decision. Do we call our youngest sister and tell her what we have read to save her reading it cold? Or do we wait until we hear from my parents and hope that she wouldn't go onto facebook in the meantime? We decided we couldn't chance her reading it and I call her. It was awful.

While we spoke to my youngest sister my middle sister and I sat side by side on the couch. We leaned into one another and as we talked on the phone there was such solidarity. We were together facing a monster. It was horrible but we were together.

Eventually my Dad called and clarified the situation. My aunt had assumed a whole lot of stuff. It was the sweetest phone call. Yes, this is bad. Yes, it's life threatening. But we are in the fighting zone and believe that treatment can work! My Mom is NOT terminal. The end.

P.S. The coffee I has was with two amazing bloggers- Cat and Leonie. I felt like I had known them forever- they are fabulous. Real and kind and normal. If you can get to spend time with them, grab it with both hands!

thanks

Thank you so very much for the deluge of kind words, encouragement and love. Emails, texts, face book messages, comments and blog love = amazing. This is why I love blogging. It's not a business for me, it's friendship and as the lines between real life and the internet blur I love each of you more.

Thanks, my friends.

So. Tonight my Mom meets with the oncologist. In about 45min in fact, and we will know the nature of the beast we face. It will have a name and a description and a timing. I admit that I am terrified. But I know that just because someone with green shoes (true) and a long list of letters behind his name calls the beast something does NOT mean it has jurisdiction over my mother's life.

The end.

I have had some good times over the last couple of days. Dida organized a birthday extravaganza that got sabotaged by the beast to some extent but Friday bight was a goodie. He organized some of my closest friends to go out to dinner with me. Some people were missing (hello Gail) But I had a wonderful time.

Then on Saturday I got to have lunch with Megs from MNMs. My gosh this girl is wonderful. She's tiny, wears mint green jeans, likes gluten free cake and is truly as lovely as she comes across on her blog.

Loved these two bits of cheer in the middle of everything else!

happy (not) birthday

Yesterday we got news that none of us expected. My mother is very ill. The cancer has returned and is inoperable.

Last Saturday my Mom left Rupi's birthday party early to got o the local hospital ER. She was in terrible pain and the doctors discovered a build of fluid in her chest cavity. Not unusual where a lung has been removed but unusual this far after chemo/ surgery. And tests indicated cancer in her chest cavity lining which is inoperable.

So officially the worst birthday of my life. But that fact shrank to insignificance in the shadow of what is happening. Instead of going out to celebrate last night my sisters gathered at our house with my parents and we battened down the hatches. We cried and talked and read scripture. It was where we needed to be.

We are reeling.

We face more chemo and treatment. It's different this time. This time it's not preventative but palliative. Not a word we are accepting right now but it does mean that this fight is serious.

So my friends, this blog may be a little cancer focused for a while. And even more than that- God focused. If this offends you, please accept my heartfelt apologies. But this is who I am and where I turn. I can't do this without my God, nor do I want to.

We stood on these verses a while ago. And they resonate with me again...

But mightier that the violent raging of the seas,

mightier than the breakers on the shore

The Lord is mightier than these

Your royal decrees cannot be changed

The nature of Your Reign, O Lord, is holiness forever. Psalm 93: 4-5

spaceman delight

I think it's fair to say that Rupi had the best day of his life yesterday. Yeah, it was good. Which makes the stress and late nights and crazy cost and the advent of psycho woman emerging at times, well worth it.

It was good!

For his party we booked the YMCA party room. The horde of small boys (and occasional girl) also had the run of the whole auditorium with all the equipment for the whole party. A YMCA trainer played with them and tried to organize games. It was like herding cats and I felt sorry for her. She was young and had no idea about the combined testosterone levels of a bunch of small boys.

They emerged for afternoon tea and we played a few games and opened presents and it was easy. Ok, it wasn't easy and due to a lack of sleep (on Dida's part with the kiddies) and my pre party stress levels there were a few marital moments while hanging the bunting. Just keeping it real.... But once we got going and Dida drank a giant energy drink, all was well.

Anyway.

I did the requested "Spaceman" theme. Bunting, balloons and murals made the room look fabulous. The food was all dairy free and exactly the same as Blossom's party. I think I may have to mix it up a bit for Blossom's next party.

 The cake was a rocket and had part of it dairy free with american frosting for icing which is totally dairy free. We had sparkler coming out the bottom which the little boys adored. Dida tried to make a speech but Rupi got embarrassed and shouted him down. It was super funny!

One the way home Rupi said that it was a "wonnerful party" and that, my friends, is all we needed to hear! Love it.

The best day ever for the fourth time

Darling boy, you are 4 years old today! In fact just 4 years and half an hour ago, you were born and we became parents. The breakthrough arrived!

These last 4 years have been the happiest of our lives. You are such a joy, precious little man. You bring laughter and light and passion into our lives.

I am so proud to be your Mama. You delight me.

I pray that the year ahead is filled with the knowledge of the presence of God, blessing and peace.

I love you so much,

Love Mama

Third best day ever

Second best day ever

First best day ever