6 month anniversary!

IT'S JULY!!!! One of my favorite months. At least when I get to see the sun- not so much sun here in Welli right now. But Justin & I are enjoying the raininess and grateful for all that life is throwing our way. I'm especially grateful for our weekend away on a homestay of a working farm in the Wairarapa! Justin did a great job planning a relaxing weekend for just the 2 of us. I am amazed by the enjoyment we can get from life when we slow down, spend time with one another, and laugh like were 5 years old again. Justin can definitely make me laugh. He says the funniest things. And although we saw maybe 20 cars the whole weekend- everytime he saw one he seemed to think that everyone was out & about exploring the countryside. So easy to tell he's an introvert sometimes.

So what else is making me feel like there is never enough time?: Book club, Mosaic, our project to understand poverty in Southeast Asia, work, chores, trying to get a running schedule down, Skyping with home, and sitting down to have a coffee. There isn't enough time for all of this-- but that's why there are weekend's away when you do nothing but enjoy each other & what's around you.

I've heard lots of exciting news at home- people are buying new homes!, Rachelle is about to start grad school, Karly is engaged!, Easton is crawling!, Ella is taking charge of her new house, and people are enjoying the summer. My boss shared a quote with Mosaic this month and I'm really enjoying thinking about it... a good one to end with.... "The place where God calls us is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep hunger." Frederick Buechner-- Hope you are pursuing where He calls you; and experiencing deep gladness. -- Lacey

headed into winter....rain clouds & ramblings

-Mt Vic in winter- we live just behind this fog cloud- if you look real hard, you might see our place.

Woah it's June 1st! Who isn't excited about moving into another winter!?! I definitely am.... not. But what can you do? I've got myself some new proper NZ winter clothes (merino wool) and I'm bracing myself for the cold, wet months. This time around though I have an idea of what it's like, a much warmer house!!, somebody to cuddle with at night:) , and a warm office to work in during the day! All things that make me happy. I've learned my lesson about hot water bottles, too- if you haven't heard that story- ask me and I'll tell you how I aged myself 40 years last year. Good thing our bodies can reverse the aging process sometimes.

In yet another attempt to catch you all up to our life down under, I'll use my favorite... a bullet list:

-- the Half marathon/ orphanage fundraiser: So the orphanage our friend is helping at has had some major setbacks recently. They were just kicked out of their facility last week, and they will now need a much different solution besides us coming up with 3k to help them pay rent. What does this mean for me? A group of friends and myself have set along a crazy path to understand the issues surrounding orphans and vulnerable children and what can be done to help. Were spending the next 4-5 months to get speakers, watch movies, and gather help & understanding before moving on with a plan of action. I'm pretty excited about this life-changing experience and pretty overwhelmed by the scope. I'm hungry for this challenge though. On another challenging note... I'm planning to still run the race at the end of this month- but probably just a 10k- finding that sometimes things just gotta give a little in life.

--Work It's busy. I just had a hand in planning an "afternoon tea" / mini reception for my boss's daughter's wedding. Learning how to buy cars to lease out- bought 1 pretty much on my own last week! Finding tenants for properties- filled one last week! And trying to do research on "self esteem" for an article my boss wants to write. What exactly would my job title be do you think?

--Visitors & trips! Justin sister, Jamie, and cousin, Brian, bought tickets to come visit next month!!! AWESOMENESS. My friend from Otterbein, Brandt, and his sister, Katie, just bought tickets to come in December- so excited!!! We are so, so looking forward to these visits. We've also firmed up a ski trip to the South Island with our friends here in August, and were trying to find affordable tickets home for Christmas. Not sure how we'll fit this all in and manage to save money... but we're trying. (our flatmates might even come home with us for a mid-west Christmas:)

Justin & I are learning lots, with only the occasional home-sick, worn-down, "I miss my Mom," kinda breakdowns. hehe. Promise that we're enjoying life, even if were being challenged by it. I personally have really appreciated our Mosaic community (with its pitfalls & strong points both) as it pulls me forward in many different ways. I am however feeling the distance and business of life as it's a challenge to connect with friends & family at home. My heart sometimes literally feels torn between 2 lives, and it can be challenging to find myself content. It leaves me in a place of completely dependent prayer. I'm praying for those of you at home, even if I can't talk to you. And I suppose this is never a bad place to be.

So much love- and thankfulness- for those of you reading. - Lacey
(sorry, we don't have any pictures from life recently- but we'll get some soon.)

Long run solutions.

Hey everyone- My friend Susanne came up with a great idea to combine 2 things we think are worth investing in: running and Demelza’s Orphans! How will we do this? Well, we’re both training for a half marathon to take place on Sunday, June 28th in Wellington, and we’re asking all of our friends and family to sponsor our run. All of the proceeds go to the orphanage in Ethiopia where our friend Demelza is helping at right now as they need $3000 to pay rent. Both Susanne and I have a goal of $500 so we could raise a third of this amount in total!

So if you’re looking for a good place to put some of your money- here’s an opportunity. Our friend Demelza is at the orphanage right now and she has reported back nothing but good things about how they are helping kids there. Our Mosaic community has committed to helping them pay this $3000 and were looking into the option of seeing how we can help them for the long run (no pun intended) as well.

If you think you could pledge $20, $50, $100, or any amount- then please click here to visit a website that helps you give online (website to be posted soon! so don't click just yet). Now we don’t just run for fun….. but we run so that these orphans have a place to stay! Thanks everyone for your help!

I eat chicken feet.

It's late Sunday night- and we're headed to bed for another week! Last week wore me out. We were going every night with something on, and at work I've got enough responsibilities now that I never finish my work before it's time to go home- I'm trying to learn how to manage that. I don't like going home when things aren't done. But I don't like not keeping up with my life at home. How do adults do this? And parents??? It's a mystery to me.

I needed a fun weekend though- and fun was had. The highlight was our flatmate AJ's bday partay. (3 months late- but it's never too late). It was themed Black & White (yes every Kiwi party has to have a theme). We even walked to town at midnight to hit up a few hot spots-- just to remind us that we are young:). We lasted till 3am- now that's impressive for us workin folks. Sunday morning we all woke up hungry so I had my first yum-cha experience at a Chinese restaurant. Basically you sit down and they bring you plate after plate of very interesting and yummy Chinese foods. I ate a chicken foot. That statement stands for itself and I can't say anything else except that if we have any visitors come- you have to try it, too.

So yes- thankful for some fun- and here are some pictures which are much more convenient to keep you all updated on our lives. Justin is sleeping now- but I suppose he has legit reasons to be wore out. He did an awesome job speaking at Mosaic tonight, he took a beautiful fall onto his butt yesterday (he has a big mark to prove it)- hahahah- and... I made him hit up the dance floor with me this weekend:) hehe. Love and miss you all!!!!!! - Lace


The "family" minus Boof

paintings and pathways

Hello Hello! It's pouring down rain in Welli today. But Justin & I have had a good weekend nonetheless. We did some babysitting on Friday and took 2 girls from our church for pizza. Saturday was most excellent as we had our whole flat to ourselves for 4 days!, so we took advantage of the time and had a lil date. We both think our place still feels a bit like a vacation home- and yesterday this was accentuated as we slept in, walked down to the waterfront where we went to another awesome cafe (I had the most amazing butterscotch and pear pancakes), came home to read some of my novel for book club, and Justin made us dinner at our place. We are feeling a bit spoiled and sometimes I worry about what life will be like when we don't have so much leisure time. But for now, we will enjoy it and be thankful for the opportunities! Today is Sunday and since the bad weather canceled Justin's golf match, he made some donuts, while I got to chat with my Dad. Loved catching up Dad, and thanks for the tire advice:) This afternoon we went with some friends to the Monet & the Impressionists exhibit at Te Papa (NZ's national museum). I feel very cultured and loved learning about Monet as we got the $5 audio guide. He did amazing work capturing the mood of a natural setting. He would set up his canvas in one place and camp out all day, painting sometimes 5 canvases of the same setting in different lighting. He saw colors that no one else saw. And his dedication was amazing. The lily pond paintings- they came from a garden he set up at his home and painted them for over 20 years! Who knew that 1 nature setting could be that captivating? I think his work points to something that I've been thinking about- giving yourself and your life to something or some cause.

I've always had a hard time choosing just one thing to invest all of myself. Making the choice to be about 1 thing, means you have to forsake all other things and this is painful to me. I have realized though that my desire to want to do, or be good at many things has actually disabled me to become great at anything. I don't see myself as a devoted person to any 1 subject, topic, or hobby and as I'm processing through this, I'm hitting that place in my life where I want to focus and become an expert at something. I want to retain my excitement about many things, but I also want to hone in on what makes me tick. My desire to go to grad school is also helping me process this- and currently I'm thinking that I want to make people my thing. Yes a very big and broad category I know. But I want to study people and what makes us do what we do. There is a program at the University of Victoria which I'm thinking about taking called the Masters in Management Studies. Most of the courses are dealing with topics such as leadership, motivation, strategy and organization. It focuses on the theory of business, not the numbers, and seeks to understand both the psychological aspects, as well as the leadership side of business.

So I'm wondering what the people who know me most think about this potential path? I can be a person of very rash decisions, and as I'm trying to grow out of this, I'm trying to deliberate this decision better. The degree isn't highly known or recognized, but I think I could still use the degree to teach at other business programs at the university level, and/or run seminars and advise businesses (thanks to Lib who has given me her feedback and suggestions). I think this plan fits me rather well and I'm excited to see where it could take me. But what are your thoughts or questions as I process this path?

I'll leave you with something much more intriguing than my writings... a Renior painting... 1 of my favorites from the exhibit!

Good ol pros and cons list:

Hello again! So this week was a bit off. We only had a 4-day week as Monday was a holiday for us, but then Justin and I both got a sinus infection- stink. We managed to not skip any work (it's funny that our kiwi friends think were kinda crazy for not staying home), but we have taken this weekend real easy and I'm starting to feel a little lazy. Yesterday (Saturday) was actually pretty awesome as we took a trip to the library to get a membership, ate at a new cafe which is now one of my favorites, sat by the waterfront to read our books, and then had a party at our place to watch rugby. (I did forget Jill's party in the afternoon- sorry Jill if you're reading!) This is an ideal Saturday for me- but there is something about being sick that takes away a bit of the enjoyment from everything. Friday and Saturday have given me a tinge of homesickness- who knows why it hits when it does- so I had the idea to blog some of the things I'll miss about NZ when we move home... and some of the things that I just don't think I'll reflect back fondly upon. Here goes:

NZ's amazingness:
-gooood coffee & amazing cafes!
-delicious wine had at any and every occasion
-Natural beauty right in front of me no matter where I look
-people from tons of different cultures who teach me lots about the world's happenings
-morning & afternoon tea breaks
-the old-fashion feel of hanging clothes on the line
-people who are excited about our American-ness
-taking life a bit slower
-rubgy
-an appreciation for quality and not quantity
-using English terms like reckon, piker, keen, & heaps
-food with less sugar & preservatives so we can live past 60! -including cheese!


NZ's pitfalls:
-it's stinkin far away from America
-Marmite
-houses without central heating or insulation
-the feeling that NZ is so small that it's inconsequential (it's not, but sometimes it feels that way)
-it's stinking far away from my friends and family
-texting rather than calling people
-dress up partys for adults- I'm just over it.
-no good donuts
-and... it's stinking far away from America.


I think I'll keep returning to this list to help myself process what I like about here, but what I also miss about good-ol-America! And there are many things to be missed! But hopefully this list helps you all understand life down-under a bit more.

K- back to teaching my flatmates how to play euchure and making buckeyes (our friends here love them!) I do love weekends. ~Lace

reading by the water

New day.

Happy Easter everyone! It has been a good time here celebrating the hope that comes with Easter. We had a special dinner at our place for 35 people- complete with readings, candlelight, and after dinner entertainment of story telling & poetry- it was memorable! It's still throwing me for a loop though that Easter is leading us into Autumn and not Spring. My sense of the seasons and time passing by is blurred and I often find myself stopping to think- what month are we even in? Does this happen to anyone else?

I find myself relishing in the fact that the Easter story tells us that the way our story ends is with a new day, a new sunrise, a new hope. The darkness is not the end of the story. I know we say this at Easter- but do you think our culture really gets that? Do we believe that there is a new sunrise coming tomorrow? The words to one of my favorite songs says, "If you're like me you need hope, coffee, and melody." And we do. Our culture truly needs hope (not to mention coffee too).

In the last month, I have had 3 close encounters with young people who have attempted to run away or end their life. It's worrying me. A lot. Why are people my age not believing that the sun will rise tomorrow? Why don't they know that the story doesn't have to end in darkness? Why do they feel hopeless when most of life is ahead of them? Is our culture missing out on hope?

Sometimes I think we are such a selfish generation, that when we see darkness, we think that's all there is. Our reality is the entire reality. But this isn't true.

I want to be a person of hope. I want my life to show that things can change. And lately- I've been learning through marriage- that I can change. We can change. I am so thankful for Justin and his ability to show me that I can work through things. I don't have to stay in the state I am now- together we can work on the parts of ourselves that need improved, and with God's power- we come out the other side- more alive, more human, more Lacey & Justin than ever before. The process is not that fun or comfortable to go through. But there is hope.

And our culture needs hope. The next line to that song says, "Yesterday's gone and today's waiting on you to show your face. And it might not be the prettiest thing that you'll ever see, but baby it's a new day." When things seem bleak and done for, I remember these words. When I wake up and I'm disappointed in the day before, or the hour before- I tell myself- baby it's a new day. The story doesn't have to end in darkness.

So I'll keep working on the parts of myself that I don't like. And please know that Justin and I are loving and missing you all lots! Our hope means baby it's a new day.:)



Our attempt for dusk-time photos. & Our Passover dinner table- we had a special dinner Thursday, too to remember Passover. Gooooood times and laughs!

trying to capture the night time view!!!!

Weekend Walks

This weekend Justin & I took a nice lil walk along Makara Beach. We saw sheep, World War 2 hideouts, windmills, and lots of picturesque scenes. Justin even tried to have me chase a sheep off the mountain. Ouch.

we think it would work for a calendar

such beauty!

peace...ful

Makes me want to jump in!

proud sheep and windfarms

Justin loved getting to see these wind farms! He is doing research about them right now.

on top of... who knows what?

Justin really does love to climb things.

A lil Windy

yeah it's really that windy.

Our address... just in case you need it:)

Hi everyone! It was a gooooood week in Welli- March is still my favorite weather month- even if we had a Southerly come through on Monday and we had to turn the heaters on. We're starting to adjust more and more. Our flat is now officially "warmed" as we had a flat warming party on Saturday- good times! We've kept busy this week with work, Mosaic, and getting ready for our party. And yes, Justin loved getting a speeding ticket in the mail for $120- good thing he was driving when we got it- hehe. We chatted with the crew in London:), Rachelle, and my Mum this week as well which we loved! Still missing everyone! Keep us updated on your lives when you can. And here's our address for those who have been asking for it.
Justin & Lacey Blass
48 Palliser Rd.
Roseneath, Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Thanks for keeping up with our blog! - Lace

For Grandma Speck!

Grandma- I have proudly displayed the Speck Sales American calendar in my office- and yes I think about Bowling Green, Ohio every time I look at it:)

Nate the constable.

Good work girls.

These girls did good with their costumes!- we had a Mum, a cheerleader, a nurse, a ballerina, and an air hostess.

Friends and flatmates

Our flatmates- Jono the carpenter and AJ the princess. Oh and our friend Joel who was about 5 different things.

What 5 year old wouldn't like this?

Our food for the party... all 5 year old foods- complete with donuts, pb&J sandwiches, and mini pizzas.

Flat Warming!!!!

So... we threw a great bash on Saturday at our new flat. It was themed "What you wanted to be when you were 5".... Yep Justin wanted to be Michael Jordan, and I wanted to work at Dunkin Donuts:) Good pair.

Yumminess!!!

Fat Cop Begins!

Yes it is true... we are endeavoring to start a donut company in Wellington! My childhood dreams are coming true:)

Oh what a beautiful beginning.

Justin and the gang.

Crazy movie statues.

Stare down with Gollum

Nice Lace, very nice.

King Kong or Justin???

A lil scary I know.

Checking out the Weta Cave!

Good times seeing the mini-museum and store that the sweet-as film company has in Welli!

Our wedding gifts!

Yes!- we finally have all of the gifts off of our wedding registry! Thought we'd take a photo so everyone at home can be re-assured that the on-line purchases worked! We're loving getting settled with our new items! Thanks everyone!

our first car

It may be a bit of a lemon... but she's ours and I like her!

what we do's.

I didn't know if it was possible or not... but now I've written 2 weeks in a row! I'm pretty stoked about this:)

I thought I'd write to tell about J and I's jobs b/c we're so thankful and excited to have them! We really can’t believe we have such great opportunities at a time when so many people don't have jobs or really don't like what they do. Of course we can't wait till Friday’s come around either....but during the course of the week we have some pretty great moments, too.

Justin is working as an Operations Planning Engineer at Transpower. The company has been good to us as they paid to move us over here and to help us get residency! He isn't too thrilled about the number crunching, mundane jobs to come... but right now he's working on something right up his alley. The first job he was given was to help track the patterns of the wind and the turbines that are collecting wind power so they can spread the power out better. He was so pumped to get a job working with power generation and green energy. He's soaking up all that he can now and learning what it looks like to be and engineer…. in the adult world. He did buy a Xbox 360 to help him unwind when he comes home. The day he bought it was one of the happiest days of his life I thinkJ.

So for me…I tried the job search thing for a few weeks and when I got totally sick of it, a friend of mine mentioned a role that sounded pretty fitting for me. Basically I work for Paul (Phil’s friend & co-worker) as a personal assistant. I've been there for 2 weeks and each day seems more and more enjoyable. The job is challenging, yet learnable and Paul, my boss is awesome! He owns 80 properties and about 25 cars which he rents or leases out, while some of the profits go towards housing for those who can't afford it. I do anything from take cars to the service station, find new tennants for a property, send out invites to his daughters wedding shower, or research for a talk that he's giving at church on Sunday. He has worked on publishing a few books before and wants to get those project back out.... he's even mentioned paying me to do some work for him in the States if we do get some publications out-- I'm so excited! My favorite part this week was coordinating some car work that needed done b/c all of the people who lease from him work for Weta Workshop- the company that made Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and Chronicle of Narnia. Justin is afraid I may run off with Peter Jackson, but it is a blast for me to work with these people and walk around the place- it's amazing and the people all look so incredibly cool and interesting to me. I basically want to walk up to all of them and ask if I can be their friend.

So this week was by far my favorite since we've been bacck. I'm starting to feel like there is some normalcy to our lives. Some rhythm and spontaneity at the same time. I truly think we were made to work hard during the week. And rest well on the weekends. I'm loving getting into the groove of things! I can’t help but feel taken care of. That’s the phrase that keeps coming to my head when I give it a think… “Man, how well Justin and I have been taken care of!” Life is a weird thing. But also a pretty amazing one.

Hopefully a lil video of our place will be next!

no... not our lil happy family....but a favorite photo ever!

Adorable. I miss them.

goooood cooking

First we make the food.... then we sit down to eat it together!

goooood eating!

The Kitchen! Where Justin and I are learning to cook. This week we learned how to cut veggies- and I totally needed it! ....shamefully these are a few of our only photos since coming back... I vow to get better at that!