The Northern South Island- it was further South you see.

http://picasaweb.google.com/JustinBlass/MumAWComeToNZ?authkey=Gv1sRgCK6jl-Knq6b6YA#

North- North Island - yes it was far North.

http://picasaweb.google.com/JustinBlass/BlassNorthlandTrip2010?feat=directlink

The end of 2010 ... and this blog

Yes ... I lost steam with this blog at the end of 2010- bit bothersome to me- but I'm hoping to take my momentum to a new adventure- and a new blog! However I can't possibly move on without capping off this blog and this year.
So how to end this blog? ... Living & Loving has chronicled the last 3 years of my life- 2008-2010 really. I moved to NZ, got married, & learned more about myself it seems than in the 10 years prior. I think I can wholeheartedly say these have been 3 of the best years of my life- but I only say this in hopes that every year continues to be better than the last- I think this is what it is to live life to the fullest.

And 2010 ... how to end this? What better way than the classic top 10 (I love lists!).

10. Reading The Element & watching The Wire- I think they been formational for me & my hope for the future. With this- the convo's J & I have had about them, and being offered a job at the Uni to work towards putting my beliefs in action!
9. My 26th birthday- I am continuously overwhelmed each year as they turn over. Jam & Webb St throwing me a surprise Christmas party, Justin taking me out on the town- Logan Brown & Museum Hotel, & Strawberry Fare. (I also must note with this- that having Jamie here this year- absolutely a blessing. Will always remember our couple's massage Jam!)
8. Dinner with my boss mid year- he took J & I out just to say thanks- encapsulates one of the many, many things I've learned from Paul & H.P.! And with that- the memories of numerous amazing nights of dinner (or bfast) & conversations with friends- these are always my favorite nights!
7. The numerous hard conversations at our flat- defining for my personal growth big time and for me, what the Mosaic journey is about.
6. Going on my first overnight hike/ tramp. Best memory- sipping hot chocolate looking out at the moon & clouds which felt eye level.
5. Finishing my first half marathon! Seriously spurred me on for the whole year to complete this goal.
4. Snorkeling with dolphins off Poor Knight's Island- I hope I never forget how hard my heart was beating. I knew it was a lifelong memory the instant it was made. Jim & Mary- THANK YOU for taking us on such a splendid trip
3. The couple's bath at Lochmara Lodge with my love- I hope I never forget the view & the smell of the bath oils! (Mum & AW came for this trip, too- no, not to the bath- they had their own!)
2. The first day of class for my Master's (and every day in Educational Leadership really). Oh and getting an A- on my first essay- such a relief!
1. Meeting Blake- and the moment at the NY airport when my sis screamed b/c I surprised her big time- absolutely priceless!

Funny to me how each of these memories sticks for me because of the people I share them with. And I know these memories are mostly events- but really the whole year has been made of moments- of struggle & celebration- and it's the moments in-between these events of connecting with people & God that I want to live for. I am absolutely blessed by those who share life with me!! Most of all- My love- Mr. Justin Blass- you spur me on to so much life & I adore you & love sharing life with you!

And so ... I will add 2 final photo albums and a post pointing you toward my new 2011 blog when it is up. Thank you for reading & for journeying with us in so many ways.

October is the new September

September!!!! Opps. But I will provide some good September photos to show you what we were too busy doing. I was basically too busy ogggling the little guy below & studying, while Justin was too busy writing/ working on 1 of many current projects- he is hoping to finish a big short story project by the end of the year! Take a look below to see September fly out from underneath you.






Morning tea with my classmates- we drink lots of tea here!


This is the dessert we had at our "Kiwi dinner" for all of my Uni friends.


A night time shot from our balcony.


Maria & Sue - 2 of my study buddies.

October has also started with one of my favourite days- Justin's birthday- a time to celebrate my love. Check out his new birthday vest :)



Oh- and THANKS for your votes- my plan is to start my new blog in January- this will give me a few months to perfect the idea of what I'm going to do & start afresh next year- so I'll keep you posted. I may try to post fortnightly even next year- but I'm still feeling bad for missing the entire month of September! Love & miss you all!!!

Just caught August

I didn't forget- August is just getting away from me. And my head is consumed with nieces & nephews! I'm posting this time from Ohio as I have had a BLAST visiting family & friends for 2 weeks. I can't tell you how fun it was to surprise my sis :) :) :) Thanks to everyone who helped keep it a secret. Almost gave her a mild heart attack, but it was hysterical. I think she might still be confused. But baby Blake isn't- he and I are buddies! Lib says I'm good at making him smile- what else can I ask for? As soon as I get back to Welli I will post some pictures for sure.

I am thinking my blog needs a bit of a project- so I need some votes from anyone who still reads this. Now that we've lived oversees for 2.5 years (yes that's true and it's crazy) it's not that exciting to simply tell you our update- we need to spice it up a bit. So these are the ideas I have so far:

1. I could pick one crazy Kiwi food/ item/ word/ idea and tell you about it each month. Including a photo & how it's a part of our lives. i.e. I could do a blog about bachs, tomatoe sauce, the 100 stairs up to the road from our flat, or marmite.
2. I could feature one of our friends each month & tell you about all the Kiwis.
3. I could pick 1 Welli restaurant a month which corresponds with what's going on for us & give you a mini restaurant review while filling you in on our adventures here.
4. I could pick 1 picture a week to post (so 4 per month) & show you parts of Wellington.
5. Any other good ideas? I am always up for a creative way to fill in my family & friends.

Please let me know what you think! I need a new lil project & hope it will be entertaining for you. Love & miss you all (both my Kiwi & American friends).

Wintery July

I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend than with my husband exploring a new part of New Zealand. We were totally lucky enough to get to spend some time away in Napier a few weeks ago- cafes for reading, an awesome new bach with double showers and an outdoor bath tub!, the coolest restaurant I think I've ever been to set on a winery, a trip to the national aquarium, and a Sunday morning bike ride :)

The entire time we were at the Old Church Restaurant, I kept thinking, "I have to get some good pictures for my Mom, she would love this place." Driving away I heard myself say, "Justin it's just so amazing," "Justin It's beautiful." ... and that's when it hit me ... I am my mother's daughter through and through. We didn't get amazing photos- but check out the website for some great shots http://www.theoldchurch.co.nz/.

Back in Wellington we are buying a new heater to take the chill off the July morning air. That's right America ... it's cold here! We just had our most un-eventful 4th of July ever. Sad. But we did have 2 weekend days in a row of absolutely blue skies - I'll take it. Besides the weather, I've been reading lots of exciting books lately (check out Malcolm Gladwell if you've never read him), and we've both been working away. Getting really really excited for my sis & to meet Mr. Blake Brossia soon. Hoping for a July full of baby news, wedding pictures (so excited for you Kendra & Mo) & no winter blues. Love & miss everyone!

Our Postmodern Reality

My Educational Leadership class at Victoria University. Semester one is over now- 2 A's for my first grad semester!

One of the last classes I took at Otterbein for my undergrad degree was called "Inventing the self and the future in a postmodern society." To be honest, I don't remember why I chose it. I didn't really know what postmodern meant when I stepped into the classroom. One of our assignments was to read Thomas Friedman's book "The World is Flat."

So now my 1st semester of grad school is pretty much done! One exam left on research methods. Awesome semester but I kinda wish I had more hw - you don't have to tell me I'm weird. So to celebrate the semester my classmates and I are going to dinner this Saturday. Check out the guest list and where we're all from:
Shuyen (we call her Sue) ... Malaysia
Lacey & Justin ... America
Mohamed ... Maldives
Maria ... Honduras
Aishath ... Taiwan
Loreto & Julio ... Chile
Ngoc ... Vietnam

Wow. So Thomas Friedman wasn't lying. Besides the book that we read in that class at Otterbein, I remember the lecture about postmodernity and choice and the effect of having so many choices. I had never thought about our experience of going to the grocery store in Ohio and having to chose from 3248230938239 different kinds of shampoo or cereal. But we do have to make a choice. How do you choose?

The discussion about choice came back to me with some Kiwi friends who are preparing to move to NYC for a year. My friend asked me to tell her about her options for banks and which ones she should check out. Keep in mind she works at one of the 6-10 bank options in NZ. Woah. Well let's see, my Dad opened an account for me when I was a baby and I belong to that bank. And there are probably 10 banks in Northwest Ohio but I have no idea which ones are in NY. So I'll ask my sister, she lives in NY and knows more than me. Lib's response, "I don't know, we chose the one closest to us. Tell them to choose that one."

This is when I realized that postmodernity is having a big effect on me. And as I try to make sense of these experiences and life in Ohio and now NZ, I'm real thankful for that class at Otterbein. I see parts of the postmodern experience of Ohio and of NZ; and they're different. So that term "postmodern" that I didn't know in 2003 is one I'm learning a lot about in 2010. And I'm trying to see reality, not just my reality.

Somehow, I'd say my parents + Eastwood schools + Otterbein College have prepared me well to experience this postmodern world so far; but I want to know how to do this for others and how to improve it. What do you think? Do you think your education prepared you for what professionals in America have deemed as 21 century skills?:
Core subjects & 21st century themes; English, world languages, arts, math, science, global awareness, economic literacy, health literacy, etc
Learning & Innovation Skills; creativity, critical thinking, communication etc
Information, Media & Technology Skills; media literacy, etc
Life and Career Skills: flexibility, initiative, accountability

Helping to prepare the next generation so they can make good choices in a postmodern world is making me realize learning isn't over; it's just begun. So even though each choice I'm confronted with I see the American in me who chooses convenience, I'm learning to step back and think about a bigger reality who doesn't always choose convenience. How do I choose wisely? NZ does that to you.

You may not recogonise us

Justin on a work trip ... trying to be Homer Simpson

Our Lost Season Finale costumes ... so sexy and pretty good costumes! If you're not a lostie ... see below to our real characters.

Into the Education world

So because of my curry obsession and because I have never had a more frustrating experience ordering food over the phone, a few weeks ago I found myself sitting in the Indian take-away restaurant waiting for my curry order. And I love that even though I live in a foreign country, I bumped into someone I knew when I happened to sit down next to one of our previous tenants. We had leased a flat to him and his wife who delivered their first baby in the flat! He casually asked me about work & life and I started to tell him about my studies. I started into my excited "this is what I'm studying," "this is how I want to change the world" speal ... and he said, "You should watch this TED talk I just saw. It's this guy Ken Robinson." My heart skipped a beat and I couldn't believe it. Ken Robinson's TED talk was the one I had just watched and then had to go out and get his book the same day and read it right away.

And of course Justin decided to read Ken's book after I talked about it so much. So a few weeks ago he sits down on the bus and starts to talk to one of his regular bus buddies who is a big tough rugby guy and somehow they get onto a conversation about school. People love telling you about their school experiences. Justin tells him about some of what we've been talking about & about Ken's talk and the man says, "Yeah that's awesome, that's what we need."

Every conversation I've been in lately & the books & articles I'm reading spur me onto wanting to be a part of the education world. Now I'm reading a book about education reform in China and the US and every time I pick it up I think, "how did I even get a hold of this book?" And then I remember the path of conversations and classes and experiences which put the book into my world. I am getting more interested in how we train teachers, how we teach creativity, and how we lead someone to have an ah-ha moment for themselves.

I am so grateful to have this time to learn. But my excitement also brings fear: fear that I won't be able to change anything or make it better for others; fear that I don't have enough experience; and fear that I won't have the opportunities to step into the person I want to become. And then I am reminded about the journey I've already been on to get this far, and I'm grateful again. All my hopes, excitement & fears ... bring gratitude.

I miss all of you back in the States very much. But I pray that you are also experiencing your own hopes, fears, and excitment. Much love- Lacey

ps. I think this is well worth a watch! http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

He's in his element!

This month we've been busy with Mosaic, too! Here is Justin giving us a rendition of his awesome poem "The Creature." We've started a new series which we'll both be speaking at, we've found a new venue!, and we've been starting lots of other new ventures involving lamps, soup kitchens, and book clubs!

April is not forgotten!

Good times this month- we tried to get the most out of the amazing fall weather with a quality family road trip :), birthday party, and an engagement party. Time is flying!




Jamie's bday par-tay! Complete with dinosaurs & pb shakes!




Family trips! Loved touring the Taranaki!




And we've got engagement parties! Congrats Ryan & Alana!

Mind, Body & Soul.... in quotes.... for March

Mind:
March is well underway and I'm reading away. My Master's program has begun. I'm getting a lil scared- my first 5000 word essay is due in 1 month and I am set to start writing it this week. Oh man. Loving the program so far & very excited that it feels like the right fit. All last year I was pondering what I'd study; and now it makes sense- funny how that happens.
"To bring the school-as-event mindset to work today is to court certain failure. School isn’t over.School is now. School is blogs and experiments and experiences and the constant failure of shipping and learning." Seth Godin

Body:
Ran in my first triathlon this weekend! It was a team event- so I did the running, my boss did the swimming, and a co-worker did the biking-- heaps of fun! I met my goal of 54 minutes for 10k (or 6.21 miles)[and then I looked over and saw heaps of people who had completed the whole triathlon by themselves- crazy athletes!]. Unfortunately, now I can't get out of bed for a 6am run-- sorry Jam. And this is the problem with accomplishing a goal-- now what is my motivator? Funny how where our goals come from is just as important as what our goals are.
"Achievement-oriented leaders grow so accustomed to successive accomplishments throughout their early years that it takes courage to pursue their intrinsic motivations." Bill George

Soul:
This month is Lent... and so Justin took on the challenge of drinking a Guinness a day... and I gave up alcohol(somebody has to moderate our budget). Two things I've learned from this so far:
1) I drink more alcohol than I realized and
2)I have a very small capacity to focus.
Giving something up is one thing; but taking something away from this experience is a whole other thing. I'm working on creating a piece of art for our Easter Celebration which reflects this time of Lent for me. And it's making me focus. Art can do that.
"If you interact with others, you have the platform to create something new—something
that changes everything. I call that art." Seth Godin

May March bring growth & strength for you in mind, body & soul! -Lacey

Feb 2010= summer shots!

Justin as smegel :)

welli!



looking a lil funny- but 2 hours & 7 minutes later- finishing my 1st half marathon!!!

Italian food is always a good time!

Rockband- I was pretty bad- Lib you would have been proud though.

Shiana & Lace

Manna & Peter

Justin & Aaron- engineer nerds, I mean friends.

Jamie is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If only you could see Boof's blue shoes!

Wanting to work.

AJ in her birthday hat! And Justin enjoying the birthday cocktail.

I haven't forgotten! It's Feb 15th and I am blogging again- spectacular. What a full-on weekend we just finished. Well, maybe every weekend just seems that way. We had lots of amazing food with good friends this weekend- man we really do eat well; steak salad with all my favorite veggies, tarts, bread, wine, homemade pasta, pancakes, fruit pizza, & coffee-- delicious (not all in 1 meal, that's disgusting)!

Justin & I had our flat to ourselves this weekend- and I'm loving it. We didn't do dishes until Monday morning. And that was only b/c we were out of cooking utensils and bowls. Okay maybe that is disguisting. But I told Justin this weekend that maybe I do want to have a place for just us. Becasue there is a lot of responsibilty that you take on when you live with other people. It's rude to not do the dishes right away. I can't make noise in the kitchen whenever I want. I can't run the hot water when I want. I have 3 extra schedules to work around. I should do my chores each week b/c other people live here.

And then Justin reminded me that we don't have a lot of responsibility because we live with other people. We only have to make dinner 1-2 nights a week. We don't have to do all the dishes. And we only have 1 chore.

The trade-offs of life.

My boss and his wife came over for dinner this weekend and we really, really enjoyed their company. They have shared their home with more family than lives on my whole country block at home (seriously that's a lot). They still share their home with family. At one time this year their new baby grandson and elderly Mum lived in their home with them. I mean; lived in their home. Liked moved in. And that doesn't count the whole other family who lives upstairs. And I'm sure they don't get to do everything when they want to do it.

I really don't know what the future holds as far as our living situation. But I can tell you this; you don't get whatever you want even when you get whatever you want.

Off to work. Even though I kinda don't want to work today. - Lacey

January Summer Times

I can't honestly say it feels like summertime as I am continually reminded that it's January. And I haven't been to Mr. Freeze, Pee Wee's, a baseball game, or swimming. Weird. But it has been great to experience summer on this side. Saturday night we had a great group of friends sitting with us on our deck for a BBQ... and the feeling of summer started to creep in. I hope it sticks around for another month or two.

I made a promise to myself to blog at least once a month this year. Today is January 31 (in the States, Feb 1 in NZ- hey it counts). Why do so many goals work like this? We set them. We want them. But we never achieve them. So so so frustrating. And especially when we know how rewarding it is to do what we want to do. I have also set a goal to run a half marathon this year- there is one in Welli in 3 weeks. My training is on schedule and I am so encouraged by the discipline and confidence that has insued. This weekend when I was running further than I've ever run before I thought; everyone should set a goal....and achieve it. It inspires me to achieve more and more goals and I think that's how we get somewhere. Hence this post.

I went to breakfast with my friend Jill last Friday. It was one of the most encouraging meals in a long time. Jill is wise and real and so kind. I really appreciate her friendship. (And having a job that lets me spend 2 hours with her on a Friday morning). She tells me what it's like to have 2 kids under the age of 3 and all the life that comes with that. She fills me in on the ups and the downs. And she always listens to those around her. So many great things to take away from a breakfast like that.

So there you have it. My January posting. I hope to get 2 in for February. Hold me to it. Because sometimes we need others with us to pursue a goal. And I really, really like going after goals. Because it's not making a goal or achieving a goal that means the most. It's the fact that we are putting one step in front of the other to do what we're made to do.

I love and miss all of you. - Lace

End of October????

A lil Housingplus staff photo. These are all the people I work with.








We are alive... promise! Blogging has gone to the wayside... life in NZ has busied itself. Every day brings more new experiences, new people, new tasks, and new thoughts. Our jobs continue to be a blessing; even when we leave work feeling worn down and unaccomplished. Our flat is still one big gathering of people which we love; even when our chores never end. And Mosaic continues to stretch us. The last month has tired me a bit- heaps of new friends have been made though and I'm loving getting to know people more. The weather in Welli has never been more moody. The blue skies in the morning mean nothing but "go for a run while you still can." And the rain throughout the night simply means "it's raining again all night."

This weekend we went for a hike (or a tramp as it's called in NZ), hung out with lots of friends, and rested as it was Labour Day weekend here. The holiday did make me think about how much I miss hanging out with family- special days and events tend to do that to you when you're away from family. Good thing we are absolutely blessed to able to fly home for 2.5 weeks for Christmas!!!!! And how amazing that Jamie (my sis in law) is going to come back with us after our trip home for a whole year!!!!! Incrediable.

We are eaglerly awaiting more sunshine, summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas (who knew those all came together), and family!! We are grateful for our Mosaic family, American friends in NZ, and the chance to learn and grow. We are constanly reminded that life moves at it's own pace. We are working hard to set a good balence in our lives of work and rest. And we are discovering what it looks like to live well in a community who "Lives by faith; is known by love, and inpired by hope."

I know I'm due for a trip to America when words such as heaps, reckon, Mum, and a funny sounding garage, tomotoe, and garage seem normal. Who knows normal any more?? We love and miss our friends and family at home! - Justin & Lacey

skiing the south island

Click on this photo for some more :)

South Island Holiday 09

6 month anniversary!