Earlier this week the beautiful part of New Zealand’s south island suffered the terrible impact of a 7.8 earthquake. Many people have lost their homes and a few have lost their loved ones. And many others have to be evacuated. It’s hard to see the suffering so many people it’s going through after this tragedy.
We live in the north island, so we didn’t get to experience any of this but having to watch the news and see those peoples, families, and parents with young children (many of those children the same age as Lia) trying to comfort them while living in temporary shelters is just heart-breaking. I see those moms and dads, and I can only imagine how vulnerable they must feel, having to be limited in so many ways. When all we want as parents is the best for our children.
But despite how sad and deep some events can touch one’s life, we always can hold on to hope. Everything is getting better bit by bit, helicopter crews from New Zealand and from different parts of the world flying back and forth between the islands night and day to provide residents and also visitors with water, medical supplies, food, and other necessities. And countless people have joined forces from all over the country to help the cause and many others have volunteered to make breakfast and lunch for hundreds of people affected by the quake. This movement of love and kindness can only inspire too many of us to do better and make a difference in this world, simply because we are all part of this beautiful earth.
Embrace your family. Embrace your children. Hug them tight.
And remind them how much you love them.
Embrace gratitude.
Because life is a continuous cycle of unexpected events.
Embrace appreciation and never let go of the people that comfort you and constantly cheers you up. And let them know how much you care for them.
Thank you so much to Anabel from the beautiful La Vitrine Verte, who kindly wrote me an email to know if my family and I were affected by the quake. Thank you lovely for your kind-hearted words.
Real-Life can only remind us that there’s always hope, no matter how rough and challenging it gets, there will always be hope. Don’t let go. Embrace every minute of life because it’s precious.
In the meantime, I leave you with this healthy Apple + Ginger Tea recipe ☕. I’m not going to talk much about it, other than telling you that this is a beautiful-comforting tea that can settle your stomach in the most delicate way. You can drink this tea hot or cold and also add some fresh lemon juice to it if you’d like. We like using a red apple to make this tea since we like using its fresh, natural sweetness to enhance its flavor, but you can also use green apple.
I've also been invited to talk about the 'Benefits of Fermented Vegetables' over Amalia's lovely blog and you can have a look here.
Take care, friends.
APPLE + GINGER TEA (REFINED SUGAR-FREE) (GLUTEN-FREE)
Serves 2 large cups.
You can serve this tea hot or cold.1 Apple, washed and cored and thinly sliced.
1/4 tsp. fresh ginger, grated (or add more if'd like)1 Start Anise, or to taste
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon power1.5 Lt Clean Water
Honey to sweeten the tea.
Preparation:
In a saucepan add apple slices, add fresh ginger, start anise and cinnamon. Combine with clean water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 15' or until apples become soft and water is completely infused with flavor. Add sweetener and mix well until dissolved .
To serve: In your favorite serving cup, add slices of apples first, (you can also add the start anise if you'd like) then pour the apple tea and enjoy. Any tea leftovers can be saved in the fridge.
If serving cold; let it cold completely and add ice cubes.
