You can do it!

"Come on Sela, you're so good at weaving and making jewellery, I know you and I can go into business. I will come on board with the poi, rakau and contemporary cloaks I make" "I full time work and trying to do my course, it's too time consuming" "You are so good at your work, I will make sure to get some of your materials your needing, especially dyes. I know you'll need them for your ketes" " look, I'll come over for a cuppa and talk more tommorow" "Ok, what time, I'll make sure I'm home. I have physio most days" "what about 10. I start work at 12" "cool, I've got swimming at 8.00. I'll be home 9.30. See you then"

Sela has got amazing work. When my son started Kindergarten here. This women walked past with her son and this beautiful authentic backpack kete on her back. I liked it and asked "excuse me, who made your backpack?" "I did" was her reply. I said "could you make me one? I'll pay $160. Colours turquoise, dark blue and plain. Sela agreed. Sela completed my beautiful backpack within 3 weeks that I wore so proudly until it fell apart. That was our first meeting. Our sons are now 18 years old. 14 years later, our friendship has grown. We see each other every now and then and occasionally we message or ring each other but, nothing major. I've seen Sela going through a marriage breakup, lost her daughter through stillborn and trying to get ahead in life as a single mum. I've been through an ex- partner trying to take my husband back by manipulating her children with false hope's and lies. My husband and I have been raising them for 16years. Thanks to my husband actually seeing but not truly believing it can see, thsts not going to happen. To me having to terminate my ECE contract due to a back injury after 10 years with the same company. 20 years of teaching, gone. Then months later discovering my step son having a brain tumor on the left side of his brain that's been growing since he was 8. We only found this out because he had 2 seizures, my boy dosen't have epilepsy. Then, my stepson dying during a biopsy. The hospital accidentally cut a blood vessel causing, a brain bleed. 3 weeks later my stepson died. While at the funeral my stepdaughter declares that her brothers death has brought the 2 families back together meaning mum and dad. Straight after my stepsons funeral, we flew up to Waikato hospital for my husband to have his lung reattached, due to it collapsing after he fell wrong while jumping off a cliff 2 years prior to all this and watching my husband trying to get over a broken heart since the death of, his son. Change is good they say. I'm still finding the good out all of this. After many tears, crying out to GOD, reading my bible finding, healing for us all is starting. I've been going to counseling to find strategies to talk my son and my husband through this all and, to make sure I'm ok. ACC and physio (gym and swimming) help me heaps. I'm socializing with others and it gets me out of the house. I'm finding my feet again. I feel GOD is showing me what other talents he's gifted me with as well. Making children's resources is where I started. Ghats why poi and rakau are important to me. As a teacher you find what is good for using both sides of the brain and these simple resources encourage children and, it's fun. I can see the need for Centres/Kindergartners to have and simple to make. It's trying to inspire other talented people to do the same and Sela, is one them. I hope with our korero tommorow, it will encourage her to come on board. We will see. There have been huge challenges come our ways and somehow we manage to make one step forward. Crying is tiring and leaves you in a hole so, with GODS help, it's time to make a move. Today is the day.

I'm tired from swimming however, excited though to see Sela. Sela just messaged me. Shes on her way. On Selas arrival I have my 100 Maori, Samoan, Cook Island and contemporary poi I've made. I have a completed cloak and the rakau in the process of being sanded. "Tena koe Sela. Since I saw you last, this is what I've been busy with" "Wow, you are serious about going into business aren't you?" "Yes" " I want us to be our own boss. It's a hobby we love doing. What do you think?" Sela then shows me her work shes been doing on her course and part-time at home. Beautiful professional pieces of art made from flax (harakeke). Those are amazing your muka and your kete (baskets). Look Valentine's is coming up in a couple of months. What about you make some roses. I'll buy the dye and the bouquet wraps and ribbons for them. If we start off in small steps, we can do it. I know someone in the council that can get us into the markets. Well, what do you think?" I like it. I know it will work. I can see it". That was 2 months ago. With the rift raft of paying bills, supporting her teenage son on her own and completing her course to get ahead. I know this dream of mine is really a lot more work for her and alot for me to ask of Sela. I can so see her going places with this however this, is my dream, that could be our dream and I'm not going to push it any further. The dyes and the wraps for the bouquets are arriving in the post just need the ribbon and the completed rose's that Sela needs to make. Sela you are one amazing women I know. Life can throw the most horrific challenges our way, it can make us feel stuck and stagnant. I know I was in it. Now that I am away from toxic thoughts, others over powering opinions, dial one of me fir their needs and wants to, freedom. Freedom with GOD, peace in my life, clarity and knowing It can be done. Sela, let go and let God because, what you and I have been through, I know you can do it.