Five things that are making me smile today

1. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, was in Afghanistan this past weekend and I got to attend two meetings with her. The first was a meeting with women from families of victims of human rights abuses and violations during the past decaddes of war in Afghanistan. Women who have come together despite their differences to raise their voices in pursuit of justice. The subject of transitional justice, or lack of it, has been one that I have found incredibly disappointing. On Friday, though, both courage of these women and the wisdom and experience of Ms Arbour gave me new hope. More than anything else, this meeting made me smile.

2. Yesterday was my nephew's third birthday party and a large chunk of the party was spent chasing a small group of sheep who had escaped from their paddock - my sister's email about their sheep chasing adventures (involving my parents, sister and brother-in-law and the kids) made me smile.

3. An email from a beautiful Mermaid is making me smile.

4. Listening to great Kiwi music is always making me smile.

5. Photos (like the one below) from my holiday in California are making me smile.

Me, Denise, Christine and Susannah taken in Santa Monica, by Susannah, the master of the arm's length selp portrait

PS: Happy Birthday Gorgeous!!

Comments

[Eloise]

Frida - I am glad you are smiling! Thanks for your blog, you are inspiring.

[HiK]

Your blog & emails make me smile.

I really do want a goat. Do they travel well?

I am considering becoming non-anonymous or rather anonymous the way you are, plenty of pictures but no names - what do you think?

Peace,

HiK

[boho girly]

YOU make me smile. Carsten and I have been trying to figure out if we can hook up a call plan from New Zealand to here when you get home. We're on it. You're so missed. Love you. Hope many more things make you smile over the next few weeks...xoxo

[sassy]

I always end up looking like a big headed troll in those arm's length self-portrait photos.

[susannah]

my photographic genius knows no bounds! ;-)

your friendship makes me smile, angel. i MISS YOU xox

[Silvia]

this post made me smile! thank you :)

[Swirly]

This is the same photo that I see on my computer everyday as it is my screen saver. I miss you and LOVE YOU!!!!

[tiny noises]

and what a beautiful smile it is!

[Kirsten Michelle]

the belief that ONE person can make a difference in the world is making me smile today.
i realize it, everytime i visit here.
it's so lovely to see your beautiful smile ;-)
thinking of you,
k
xo

[susanna]

What a great list! Those are certainly five things to smile about today!

[crazymumma]

These last two posts. So many goodbyes and you growing into these hellos.

Your life seems exciting. Well lived already.

[John Mullis]

Glad you're smiling and thanks for sharing it with us. Have noticed you on Heba's & Laila's blog. Good to know there's still people out there who believe they can make a difference.

I interviewed for a position with an NGO in Afganistan in 2002 but wound up in Albania for 2 years!! Bad sense of geography!!!!

[forever young]

i've just stumbled on your blog and am hooked already. all those goodbyes brought lumps to my throat and tears to my eyes. you are a wonderful young lady. there are very few like you out there.

[Neil]

Now I'm going to scold both you and Susannah for not telling me you were in CA!

[Paris Parfait]

Certainly good reasons to smile, dear Frida. xo