The point of each EOM (End of Month) PP (Personal Post) from April May Gems (local author/podcaster) is for your Facebook feed to include something that might inspire and encourage you to get outside and smell the roses...

even if you don’t have any, 

even if it’s a grey kinda day, 

even if they’re far away,

search for them…

These are some of my 'choosing to rose-smell' moments...

in MAY, I ...

received that epic photo above, of our trusty ol Ute clocking over its

400,000th kilometre!

What a freaking milestone that is right there!

Helped build a marshmallow skewered tower with a bunch of 11yr olds 

and I also shared some of my epic graffiti skills with them 

plus, I almost dislocated my finger winning a handstand race 

I took a drive to the Cobb valley - during some very precarious weather (the orange warning kind!) until eventually was stopped at a fallen tree so then, decided what better than to  

have a picnic in the car!

Searched for and counted

epic, beautiful waterfalls!

We found around 60 of them just going up and back down that Cobb Valley Road

Stopped on the side of Tākaka Hill to watch some crazy rock climbers

also stopped on the side of the road to snap a pic of an ol’ broken house

- they just ooze character - don't you think?

Found my artistic estuary stone writing defaced so, I re-did an ever better one -

those rocks now cry out:

"Jesus Luvs You"

Had dinner around a table with friends more times this month than I can count on one hand!

Also,

I celebrated turning 55!

not with boring birthday cake but with a lemon posset in a fancy glass 

plus a mini mountain of macaroons with candles!

I also celebrated my son’s 25th birthday on the same day!

yes I had a baby on my 30th birthday!

seriously, who does that?

In addition, I celebrated two 60th’s!

Missed my mum on Mother’s Day :(

If you miss someone / need hope,

you can listen to a podcast I dedicated to my mum here

Was grateful to still have my Mother in Law with us tho - she is 93!

We blessed her with a blueberry bush called 'Blueberry Muffin'

(we also gave her some actual blueberry muffins while she waits for the plant to grow!)

Shared my testimony at a church -

it’s on YouTube if you’re interested via the Richmond Baptist Church link here 

Endured through a 4.5hr meeting about food & exercise - due to desiring to know more about diabetes

Wrote a chapter about the seven - YES, SEVEN ‘rear end crashes’ I’ve experienced

(plus I finished 4 other chapters) for my upcoming new book - Volume 2 of He is Faithful from A to Z

Volume 1 is available at our local Richmond Paper Plus by the way so get your hands on it

if you like reading true stories -

the "WOW" kind!

Rode our Triumph Tiger out to Pancake Rocks, enjoying that sweeping West Coast road (iykyk) 

Then (ugh) we got -

a flat tyre!

So ofc I soaked in an outdoor bath while watching my man change said flat tyre lol

Went for at least 3 walks a week because

Walking is good!

It clears my mind and hopefully my waistline too!

While walking, I saw a very happy letterbox, 22 ponies, 7 sheep, a billy goat, a kingfisher, 2 very noisy ducks and a dead seagull that made me cry.

Tried a matcha latte! (a yummy, frothy, green, Japanese tea) made well and with love by the staff at Vanilla Bean Café in Richmond

Went on a swing - a really cool one outside our local Alioke Eatery in Berryfields - 

and loved it - because,

SWINGS ARE EPIC !

Also attempted a ‘rope kind’  but alas I was a tad too short.

Sat on a plastic horse, because, well, why not?

Played all sorts of games including

Monopoly cards, Five Crowns, Mancala

plus a even a few rounds of “taco cat goat cheese pizza” 

Added to my collection (my newish little hobby) of collecting rocks from places I visit and painting them

Took a stroll down the Truman track 

snapped breathtaking views from the reef including

starfish and cats-eye sea-snails!

and visited a seal colony - snapping up a naughty, “I will bite you on the bottom” kinda one!

Went to an AGM - and 'chose' to enjoy it & the people & the free food!

Discovered “Sunday Service”

by none other that the iconic and slightly controversial

Russel Brand

and I tuned every Monday morning to watch him and his wife do life through the bible.

I've enjoyed every episode so far!

Received some actual roses from a precious friend!

and...

set a daily alarm to 'pray,' specifically for … 

someone like you...

Thanks for reading.

God bless you as you live life well.

If you are struggling to do so, I am happy to help. You can contact me anytime right here.

I would so love to hear from you.

Until next time,

April May x