Symon and our eldest son have just returned home from 12 days in Fiji!  They went with a group of 14 others from our church to serve and encourage 4 churches we partner with and assist during their bi-annual conference.

Our son Jasher absolutely loved his time there and really wants to visit again.

It's amazing how you can travel on a missions trip hoping to encourage others and be a blessing yet often you return home and find you have been more impacted and encouraged yourself than you expected. That's the general feeling I get from those that travelled on this trip.

The people of Fiji are beautiful, warm and friendly and have an amazing sense of humour.  They welcome you into their homes, share their stories and many have such a strong faith in God despite the sometimes overwhelming trials they have to face.

Symon was so impacted by their respect and honour for older people, something that sadly, we often don't see in our culture, as well as their thankfulness and joy for what they have.  I think so many of us could learn a great deal from these amazing people.

I'd love to travel to Fiji with the next team, but until then I'll just have to keep listening to the stories, gazing at the photographs and praying for this beautiful Nation and it's precious people.

It's so good to have my guys home again though... soooo good!

It's that time of year here in New Zealand (middle of winter) when your lemon tree is laden with so many lemons that you don't know what to do with them.  You offer to give them to friends and family, but they too have lemons coming out their ears and politely decline your offer of lemony goodness.

I shared some of my favourite lemon recipes on facebook last week as I was making a couple of lemon loaves and some lemonade and was amazed at the response I got - so many friends and family were thankful for the delicious recipes they could use their lemons in.

So here you go friends, I thought I'd copy the links to some of my most favourite lemon recipes in one spot so that you can make and share with friends to your hearts content.

Let me know in the comments if you have a favourite lemon recipe (and share the link too!).

As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons...

Lemonade

I love this lemonade recipe!  It's so delicious with the lemon rinds included, and you can change the amount of sugar you add to your own personal taste.  Recipe here, underneath the Lemon Rind Biscuit one listed.

Lemon Rind Biscuits

These tasty biscuits are so nice and rather different from the usual biscuit flavour.  Recipe here.

Lemon Loaf

This is one of my most favourite lemon recipes!  My mum is known for making this one alot, and it's fun to use limes instead or with your lemons.  The sticky topping is delish.  Recipe here.

Lemon Honey

This would have to be one of my most favourite spreads!    Recipe here.

Lemon Yoghurt Cake

Something a bit different again, this Lemon Yoghurt cake is delicious!  Recipe here.

So there you go people!  Enjoy these lemony recipes and make something amazing out of all of those lemons!

For more delicious recipes visit here.