Our house is almost at the base of one of Auckland's 50 (or so) volcanoes, on one of the busiest roads into Auckland: a major feeder into the city, the highway system and one of the biggest schools in the area - just down the road they are constructing a major new highway and the footpath outside our house has been ripped up and rebuilt 5 times in the last year. Some of our nighbours like to 'party' long, loud and late and that's when they aren't having excited, exhilarating, exhausting 'discussions' with family and friends.
During school term and 'normal' days the road is busy and loud, but over this past week it has been relatively quiet. It's a time of the year to savour, and for some in the house to sleep.
Life is often a bit of a surprise roller coaster isn't it - you know the general direction that your going in, and often we have even scoped out the finish line, but the bends, drops and climbs in between can sometimes take us by surprise. I am grateful for the times, when in the middle of the ride things smooth out for a little while and you can catch your breath, even if it is just to steady yourself for the next gut wrenching fall, or muscle tightening climb.
It's good to make time to be still... for a while
