Journey

There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path  (Buddha)

All week happiness has bubbled up like a spring within our lives.  After I wrote last week’s blog Sam and Caitlyn called from Christchurch to let us know they had become engaged.  Sam got down on one knee in the Botanic Gardens with a lovely ring and Caitlyn said yes!  We are very happy for them both.  Caitlyn is already very much part of our family.  This year the majority of my girlfriends ‘the Girls’ have been turning 50; Cindy, Jo, Janine and tomorrow Mandy.  This week it was my turn.  50 somehow feels more significant than 49 or 51 so I took the day off work.  Wet weather dampened the tramping trip Sean and I had planned so we walked the Opunake Loop trail and had lunch at Sugar Juice café.  On Friday I was lucky to spend the day kayak training on the Waitara River with other TRC staff, and at night we had a nice dinner out with Nana and Poppa Honnor, Sam and Caitlyn at Simply Devine cafe.  I was the lucky recipient of some native fauna themed and beautiful smelling gifts.  Mandy, who never does anything by halves, decided 50 was worth celebrating so last night we went to her birthday rave at the Bowl of Brooklands.  We danced on the stage to 90s music and it was like we were all teenagers again.  Happy birthday also to Grannie Gardiner who celebrated her special day this week.

It has been a bit of an unsettled week for Rory and it will continue with school holidays.  Rory had his last two post-treatment re-immunisations.  He and Sean attended a North Taranaki Enabling Good Lives workshop on Wednesday.  Other families are grappling with the same challenges we are, and worse.  Rory had a second mobility scooter session with Leanne, OT from ACC, at Pukekura Park on Friday.  He was with Support Carer Jo on Saturday morning and evening.  In the morning they went to the Taranaki Rockhounds (Lapidary & Mineral Club) annual show where Rory was the recipient of a random act of kindness.  One of the carvers, Terry, gifted Rory a Pounamu hei matau (fish hook) when he saw how much Rory liked it.  It was a very generous gift and Rory and Jo were deeply moved.  The Taranaki spring weather makes outdoor activity challenging but we get out as much as we can to walk and ride, complete with raincoats, wet sneakers and Blunt umbrellas.

Thank you, love and hugs to everyone has celebrated with us this week xox