Life

Second Day of Our Family Trip

January 18, 2021 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

The second day of our trip dawned cold and clear, and by breakfast time, there was sunlight coming through the trees, so we soaked that up while we ate—a breakfast of fried eggs, bread and condiments, and granola (muesli) for those who wanted it.

We were on the road by 10:30 or so, and our first stop was Cave Stream. Dad and my oldest brother walked through there four years ago, but this time all the boys and my oldest sister wanted to make the trek, so they did that. While they were underground in the freezing, sometimes waist- or a bit higher water, Mom, my baby sister, and I walked the trail on top and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery!

I admit it. I took far too many pictures while we were driving. But I love mountains!

Looking up toward the Torlesse (?) Mountain range, down the Broken River valley.

It was such a gorgeous area!

My brothers at the cave opening, where Cave Stream runs out to join the Broken River.

Dad and my oldest sister also went through the cave.

The Broken River, downstream.

Cave opening where my brothers came out.

This is the kind of area I’d love to live in, except for the fact that it’s so remote!

Lunch break.

After lunch, we went to Castle Hill, where my brothers had fun climbing the gigantic rock outcrops. I carried my baby sister up there, hoping she’d fall asleep, but she ended up staying awake until we got back to the van.

Meanwhile, Mom and I got to do a little exploring in the area—that was beautiful! I love how rugged it is and seeing the mountains in the background.

My brothers were quite exhausted by the time they got back! They aren’t used to quite such strenuous work most of the time!

Switchbacks on Porter’s Pass.

Baby sister was tired!

That evening, we stayed the night with friends, ones I lived with for six weeks this past May/June. It was lovely to catch up with them again!

The next day, Mom and I went to a used book store, and my brothers went to an aviation museum. Post coming soonish, hopefully. 🙂

First Day of Our Family Trip

January 2, 2021 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

We’ve had a delightful family trip so far! We left fairly late Monday afternoon, and got up to Arthur’s Pass in time for a quick hour’s walk before we needed to set up for the night. I’ve been wanting to show the Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall to the family for quite a while, so that’s what we did. I counted the steps on the way up—401 one way, not counting all the parts of the path that were not steps either up or down! Needless to say, we were all a bit puffed by the time we got to the top!

But the views…just gorgeous! This is from when we were heading out to the road to the pass.

Heading up the Arthur’s Pass Viaduct…a gorgeous, sunny day!

The Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall:

After climbing up to the viewing platform, all of us children went on to the base of the falls.

Brothers in the rainbow. 🙂 Baby sister wasn’t very impressed, though, and wanted to go back to “Mum, Mum!”

My wonderful parents!

Baby sister had fun climbing down some of those 401 steps by herself!

View down the pass valley—this is the Bealey river.

Enjoying the sunshine and company at the end of the walk.

That evening, since it was cold out and the sandflies were attacking, we all gathered in the back of one of the vans on Dad and Mom’s bed and played a game of Ricochet Robots (a recommended game, by the way).

And thus was the end of our first day of traveling. The next were fairly eventful, as well—perhaps I can take time to get some more posts together about that!

Tuis! …and a Bellbird

January 1, 2021 // Esther Filbrun 2 Comments

Well, I’ve been writing a good many blog posts in my head, but haven’t managed to get any onto digital paper yet. Perhaps this one will make it there—we’ll see!

Life has been full. Full and wonderful.

My job working with a disabled girl finished at the beginning of November, and aside from a few trips, I’ve been home ever since. Three people in our family have had medical emergencies in that time, one requiring a three-night stay in the hospital (!), so my time home certainly hasn’t been dull! But there have been some beautiful moments, too.

And one I’d like to share with you today is…the tuis!

Two years ago, the New Zealand native flax bush just outside our dining room window bloomed. We had a profusion of birds come through that year to suck the nectar—tui, bellbird, wax eye, sparrow, starling, just to name a few. It lasted for about a month, and it was the most lovely experience to have the birds feeding within a few feet of where we stand at the windows!

A year ago, I was disappointed that the flax bushes didn’t bloom (still don’t know why; do they have a biannual schedule or something?).

But this year, they are blooming again! And for the most part, the tui have been harvesting them. We have seen the occasional starling, sparrow, or bellbird come through, but the tui have been far and away the most common. Sometimes, we’ll get up to three at once out there, but generally only one. If there are two fairly close together, one or both end up fluffing their feathers out and giving the other a good scolding, which in turn generally sends one or the other away in a hurry!

Notice the orange increasing on their heads as the season progressed? That’s when the flowers opened up more, and the pollen was released.

And then I was able to get a couple pictures of a bellbird!

Here’s a picture of two of them fighting about who gets to stay to eat (even their fighting language is musical, though).

It’s been a lovely experience the past month to get to watch these beautiful birds so close-up. This is one time I’m thankful we have great big bushes fairly close to the house!

Faithful in All Seasons

September 1, 2020 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

It was a warm, windy day here when I got back to North Canterbury on Sunday afternoon. Today, rain is coming through in gusts, with a definite chill in the air heralding a southerly wind pushing up from south of New Zealand. Some parts of the island have had snowfall, and though we aren’t supposed to get any due to our low altitude, you can definitely tell from the air that it’s somewhere around! I’m looking forward to tomorrow, when the clouds roll away and I can get a glimpse at the hills and mountains surrounding us—I expect they will be quite beautiful!

It’s amazing how life follows the same patterns weather does—sometimes, things are bleak and shot-through with sorrow, and other times, sunlight comes in on the gentle wings of a breeze, coaxing the daffodils and hyacinths into the full, rich blossom of springtime.

When I went home a week ago, the tree outside my bedroom was a mass of dark greeny-grey branches and twigs. Now, little clusters of light green have sprung from what looked lifeless, and the tree’s branches are suddenly a haze of growth and beauty.

These past weeks haven’t been easy, for a variety of reasons, but you know—the Lord is so faithful. Even when I feel like I’m distanced from Him, that I can’t get much out of His Word, He still reaches through and touches me.

I’ve been blessed to be part of a HelloMornings study group for the past two weeks, and one question about a week ago was, what songs do we cling to in hard times? I shared a couple from my “Valley of Hope” playlist—one compiled years ago—and was reminded of just how faithful the Lord has been over the years.

When we walked through losing my brother, He held us up.

When Mom miscarried little ones we were looking forward to meeting, He held our hands—and even provided a rainbow in the sky on our way into the hospital the last time!

When my youngest sister was born, our joy in His goodness overflowed.

When I struggled to give up my idea in preference for what He was asking from me, He gave me the grace to say “yes”.

When a hoped-for journey came to an abrupt end, He gave peace.

Whatever you’re facing, friend, I hope you will keep your hope and trust in the Lord today. No matter what your current weather season is, He will always bring life and hope again!

And, for your enjoyment and perhaps encouragement, here is my “Valley of Hope” playlist.

What songs touch you when you’re walking through hard things? Comment below; I’m always on the lookout for other encouraging ones!

Home Again—Temporarily!

July 8, 2020 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

I’ve often pondered what the word “home” means—because I’ve felt at home in many different places over the years!

Born and raised in Michigan, teenage years in New Zealand, longish trips back to the States, a trip to Tasmania, one to Hastings, another to a tiny out-of-the-way place in south Canterbury, weekends at Kaikoura for eight years….

Each time I look at pictures of those places, or go back to them, I feel a certain rest when I get there.

These are my mountains. This is my road. These are my people.

Some places have a stronger tug than others, of course. And yet, life continues moving—a steady thread pulling me forward, until I fear that if I take time to look back, I’ll miss out on the now.

A week and a half ago, I came home again, back to my family, back to the green pastures and quiet purplish mountains visible across the winding rivers. And while I know and feel that I’m at home, there’s a restlessness there, too. This transition between being with one family that has become “my” family, and my flesh-and-blood-family is hard sometimes.

Because I love them both.

And I’m thankful for this—this grief of what is now past, and this looking ahead to what will be. I don’t know what the next weeks will look like—while things like a permanent job are definitely up in the air, another opportunity has come up in its place.

God has a way of bringing unexpected, sometimes uncomfortable, things into our lives. Lord willing, I’ll be heading away again in about a week’s time to help another family with a daughter who has been unwell for many years. I’m expecting this to be stretching in ways I’ve never dealt with before, but I know I will also learn a lot, and find out again just how good the Lord is and how much we can rest in Him.

But for this week, I’m home. And whatever situation I end up in next, that will become “home” too, so I’m thankful.

God is good.

The Last Four Weeks…

June 10, 2020 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

…I’ve been away from home! And today, I finally have a little time to sit down and say “hello” for a bit!

I’ve had a very full month this past month—I planned to go help a mother after her surgery, but plans got changed (common story at this point, anyone?) and I didn’t go after all. I was very thankful to be able to stay with my family during our lockdown—we made some great memories during that time!

But then, as soon as lockdown was over, plans quickly came together and they were full steam ahead! So I’ve had the privilege of getting to know a family with seven children over this past month, and by now, we’re all good friends.

I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to do a lot more cooking—something I’ve noticed before in situations like this! I’ve found that I don’t cope well when I don’t have a menu to follow (but then, I’m not so surprised at that!), but I’ve also found that I love making things up. Last night, we had a meal inspired by Chow Mein, Cabbage Roll in a Bowl, Egg Roll in a Bowl, and Chicken Noodle Soup for tea. That was yummy, and I had fun figuring out which elements of the four dishes I would use, and which I wouldn’t!

We’ve enjoyed playing a good number of games different weekends. Two of the weekends since I’ve been here, I’ve spent elsewhere—visiting friends either north or south of where I am currently staying. That’s been really good, especially since we haven’t even had the chance to visit for the last few months! I’ve loved being able to reconnect with people like that.

My days are very full, but probably one of my most favorite times is my early morning drive over (I’m staying about 7 min. away at the grandparent’s place). Early into my time here, the sun was rising around 7:30 am—just about the time I was heading over for the day. The family lives in the hill country part of Canterbury, close to but not quite right underneath the mountains. It’s a lovely area—I’ve always loved the hills and mountains, and watching the golden beams of sunshine play along the tops of the mountains is just the most gorgeous sight ever! Often, too, when there’s been a good frost overnight, everything is glistening in the morning light. It’s beautiful.

The days are getting shorter, though—we’re only about 10 or 11 days out from the shortest day from the year—so lately it has been darker and darker when I take off in the morning. Likely, it will probably get to the point where I will be leaving in the dark as well as getting back in the dark, but that’s alright! I can enjoy the sunrise, anyway. It’s a lovely time of day.

In all, I’ve had a good time here. I’ll likely be here for several weeks yet, and I’m looking forward to learning more cooking skills and spending more time with the parents and children. I’ve already read one book (Owls in the Family by Farley Mowatt) aloud to them, and I’ve just started reading Star of Light by Patricia St. John out loud as well—that’s been very fun!

What things have you been enjoying doing lately?