Monday, October 31, 2016

Spark Joy

I used most of my spring break holiday tidying our home using the "spark joy" method.   We only made it through the first big category (clothes), and it feels great. 

 sorting one category at a time - SHOES.  

I enjoyed taking time to sit with our kids and watch them sort their stuff, join the banter, and read out loud to them from my tidying book (which they enjoyed mocking, of course).  



By discarding items that don't spark joy and by folding clothes vertically, we discarded over 100 hangers and ended up with extra space in our drawers and closets.

Even little Joyce enjoys finding just the right way to fold something so it will stand up.


looking down into a drawer from above

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

New Plymouth Young Men - Labour Day Campout





The person taking the video is Maihi Brown, our new branch president.  The other adult is Harry Gaastra, our district president.  Boys: Oak, John, and Tubare.

Danny wasn't on the campout because he, Mike and I attended the posh Tiger Jacket dinner for all the boys at his school who have earned a Tiger Jacket.  

I sat next to a very interesting evangelical preacher. ("I have been blessed with the gift of wisdom from a young age...")

Here's a link to the video on YouTube in case the embedded video doesn't work out:
New Plymouth Young Men - Labour Day Campout

Monday, October 17, 2016

Election Thoughts

Living abroad as an American during this election has been frustrating. Trump acts like a thug, yet it's obvious that he has the support of millions of Americans. New Zealanders keep wanting me to explain how this could be, and I'm at a loss. I feel very sad at the way this election, and, in particular, Trump's candidacy, has shaped attitudes about what America values. 

I feel that the local outrage about Trump colors how I'm perceived as an American. Yesterday a gas station attendant asked about my accent. When I told him that I am an American, he asked, "Trump supporter?"
"No."
(shaking his head) "137 million Americans are supporting him, though. How is that possible?"

I've had ongoing variations of this conversation with New Zealanders for months.  The day before the gas attendant, it was a man with a baby in Bunnings, a hardware store.  The day before that, it was another mom as we picked up our daughters at dance class.  

The average New Zealander doesn't know any more about the philosophical differences between Republicans and Democrats than most Americans know about the difference between Britain's Labour and Conservative parties, so all they see is that Trump stands for personal indulgence, bigotry, and anger and that millions of Americans support him. These are not American values. American values are freedom, optimism, creativity and hard work.

Many conservative Americans are inflamed about Clinton, but outside the US, Clinton seems like a typical career politician - someone who's made compromises, but who is experienced and canny and dedicated to her party.   No one has ever asked me about Clinton at the checkout counter when they hear my American accent.  

Why do New Zealanders care?  I've asked this questions, and the answer always is, "America is the most powerful nation in the world.  Of course, what happens there affects us here in NZ."  New Zealanders hear about the election every day on the news, just like most Americans.  In New Zealand, most international news comes from international news sources (mostly from the US and the UK).   

A couple of weeks ago I attended the speech finals at my boys' high school, and 4 of the 12 students jabbed Trump in their speeches.  Oak might have, as well, if I hadn't advised him against getting some easy laughs at someone else's expense.  One of the boys' speeches was entirely dedicated to Trump and why he would be bad for the world.  

Meanwhile, other family events from the last few weeks:


Danny and I spent the weekend in Nelson.  Very fun-  Another Prokofiev performance, an English essay, some hiking, a street fair, the World of Wearable Art.  


We billeted for 3 nights with the symphony's clarinetist and her husband.


Instead of flying home with me, Danny flew to BB Nationals in Palmy.


I happily gave in to Sue's insistence that we dig up a winter's worth of weeds in front of our house and put in a veggie garden.
Before and after shots


some strawberries, too
 It's finally warm enough to start up the Sunday afternoon volleyball again.  We have only played once since Noah left for Bulgaria in February.  Lucky for us, Mercy has grown a heap taller AND completed an actual volleyball unit at school since Noah left, so we can still carry on a family game. She may be playing in Noah's spot on the court, but she still has a long way to go to match Noah's ability to talk smack or gloat after a big play...  


Mike's idea of a game for family home evening last week.  
Some of the best lesson ideas don't take any prep.
Oak took the photo