April May Gems

Fresh FM
April May Gems

April May, author and founder of April May Gems and mother of five, is passionate about sharing her stories to encourage and inspire others and to restore hearts that are in need of hope.

  1. 25 MAR

    April May Gems - Mar 25 2025 ep46 The Love Letter

    An old brown envelope...addressed to you! What do you do? Open it of course! Or in this case, I'll do the honours and I'll just let it be read out loud to you so you can hear the words and hopefully, let them soak in, to your heart and be blessed to know, just how loved you are. What about love after hurt? What if there is so much hurt in your past that your past can be symbolised as a monumental mountain that you know you could never, ever conquer, climb or 'get over' on your own. What if there was someone who is willing to 'give you a hand?' Someone who is standing, just waiting at the bottom of that mountain, and all you have to do is give Him, your hand. Would you? I did. Been hurt? Be loved! Not just by any old love. There's a different kind of love that is not only possible, it's attainable and available, even after hurt, along with that hand. So, what are you waiting for?

    27 min

  2. 11 MAR

    April May Gems - Mar 11 2025 ep45 Choosing Joy Despite Circumstances - International Happiness Day

    Who on earth came up with the idea of a Worldwide International Day of Happiness? Well, I can tell you it was someone who was born into a circumstance that most of us would not likely wish for! The idea of this International Happiness Day was suggested however, to ‘increase’ happiness. - Go figure! Anyhow, the United Nations accepted the proposal and so now, it’s a thing! Celebrating happiness, all over the globe, every March. And its aim? Well, to make people around the world realise the importance of happiness “within their [own] lives,” of course! And that’s what I want to talk about today. Happiness, within life, whatever that life looks like. Your life, whatever it may bring. So, what if your life is indeed one big ball of sad? Happiness, in all honesty may seem unreachable, or to some, even unthinkable. Is finding the happy amidst dreadful circumstances even achievable? What is it? What does it look like? How do we make it last? How can we capture it so we can endure through the tough times, with it? Perhaps there is something deeper than just ‘temporary happy’ or ‘faking’ the happy. An inner joy, that is inexpressible. Indescribable. Unspeakable. A continual joy that brings real strength for times of weakness, or even grief! And a peace that surpasses all understanding, amidst a sad circumstantial season or despite a dire situation. I found it. You can too.

    31 min

  3. 25 FEB

    April May Gems - Feb 25 2025 ep44 Pink Floyd Special - If You Don't Eat Your Meat You Can't Have Any Pudding!

    On location for the PINK FLOYD Orchestrated World tour – ECLIPSE, in Christchurch NZ, I do declare faithful listener, that I “WISH YOU WERE HERE!”. I ask... “Have you become COMFORTABLY NUMB?” as I ponder the bricks that we build, that create THE WALL’s in our life, likely to protect our own hearts but that ultimately shut the very one that can heal it, out. I also ask if you believe that “IF YOU DON’T EAT YOUR MEAT, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY PUDDING?” As in, do you have the view of life that if you are a goody goody and eat all your meat, (so to speak) that you will get rewarded with some ‘pudding’ one day, as in - you will get to sit on that fluffy white cloud and play a harp in Heaven (or something like that) perhaps? – Oh, but if you are naughty, and I mean on any ‘little white lie’ level, then some far-away fantasy, lightning-bolt striking God might just one day strike you down instead? Let me encourage you in the midst of some Pink Floyd classics, on this episode, to not be like a “LOST SOUL, SWIMMING IN A FISH BOWL” but to know the truth. Be encouraged also, to reach out to a love that never ends and never runs dry or to reach out to someone else who may be hiding behind a mask. Stop to chat. Create some space and time. Can you “TELL A SMILE FROM A VEIL?” or “BLUE SKIES FROM PAIN?” God bless you as you listen and be filled with hope today. This episode is dedicated to my husband, the biggest Pink Floyd fan I know. Happy Belated Christmas Darlink.

    30 min

  4. 11 FEB

    April May Gems - Feb 11 2025 ep43 Celebrating World Radio Day

    Coming to you on location in HOKITIKA on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, for their Annual Living Waters Music Festival, I share a few 'fun facts' about radio on yet another annual celebration – The International Day of Radio aka "World Radio Day!". For example ... Have you ever wondered what a Brooklyn navy yard’s wireless operator (who was copying morse code one day) heard through his headphones, when the very first voice recording was transmitted over the airwaves in 1907 - from over 10kms away?! I admit this show is a little noisy with the musos playing in the background but it was such a great day out for families and people of all ages, with food trucks, hay bales for seats and lots of dancing, bands and stand-alone singers, as well as lots of story-teller's and one radio host (lol) bringing you a little hope amidst all the buzz. I also share my story. How did I end up on the radio? Well, I think it really all started with Jellybeans! I also share the vision of my local community radio station, FreshFM - a station by the people, for the people, and about the people - powered by the passion of people, all of us being locals living and breathing the same (but different) experiences, as you! I hope you enjoy the show and the songs I play on this episode, ranging from decades ago to a brand spanking new one, at just a couple months old. Enjoy, be encouraged and be filled with hope.

    30 min

  5. 28 JAN

    April May Gems - Jan 28 2025 ep42 - Interesting People with Fascinating Stories - Project of Love

    Do you feel like you’re living under a cloud of gloom? Like there’s a big blackness lingering over you? Well, don’t lose hope. There's some wonderful wise words that were written long ago that can be like a life-line to you, if you let them. They were for Xander Stok, a Dutch man who ‘once upon a time’ (and up until just a few years ago) was living it up as a very famous musician in a devilish, rock and roll, dream life as front man for the band “The New Shining” (literally named after that scary Stephen King book!) However, behind the face of fame he also lived a very real nightmare, for twenty years, suffering with a very deep depression which was like living in a void where things like joy, laughter, happiness and life itself became abstract concepts. All he felt was an emptiness, “like a cloud of gloom and a shadow of death.” Those ancient words say this:-“He will remove the cloud of doom, the shadow of death...” Maybe youre feeling like you’re in a ‘fed up with life' kind of state, like Xander was, or you feel like you’re living under a similar heavy weight, that you just can’t seem to ‘lift off’ of yourself, by yourself. It’s too dark, or too heavy. Maybe you struggle with addictions and you, like Xander feel like youre so far gone. Well I’m here to tell you that you’re not. Be encouraged by this story and the songs from Xander Stok’s Project of Love. (This episode also includes a belated message from Sherlie who was interviewed in episode 38.)

    32 min

  6. 14 JAN

    April May Gems - Jan 14 2025 ep41 - Feed on the Good Stuff and Be Filled, with Hope

    What are Russel Brand, Justin Bieber and Bear Grylls doing on my news feed? And why would I personally telephone18 politicians? I mean, are there any good, honest, trustworthy politicians out there, speaking up for the people? And here’s a thought – If you sponsor a child, does your money even get to them? Tonight’s episode is a bit of a continuation of the last one where I hope to encourage you to seek out politicians, organisations, radio and TV stations, songs and clips and shows, artists, instagrammer’s, facebook posters and podcasters - even via some not so widely known outlets and platforms where good news sharers CAN be found. Even the old email inbox can be filled with new ‘subscribed to’ content so, be encouraged to make good choices, seek, find and feed on the good stuff and be filled, with hope. Speaking of seeking, know this – “you are not hidden and there’s never been a moment that you’ve been forgotten. You’re not hopeless or defenceless. [God will] be your shelter and your armour and He will never stop marching to reach you. He’ll even send out an army to rescue you.” (from some good, hope filled lyrics by Lauren Daigle)

    27 min

  7. 31/12/2024

    April May Gems - Dec 31 2024 ep40 - Happy New Year! 2025, It's Great to be Alive! But is it really?

    Wars, rumours of wars, economic crisis and unrests around the world, personal and financial hardships, stress and mental illness at an all-time high, confused and angry kids, controversial curriculums in schools, heightened crime, constant government changes, protests, Artificial Intelligence, radical offence, people being cancelled... Are you curbed to the idea that this life, in 2025 is NOT a great time to be alive? Well, I think it depends on what you’re looking at. Do you remember the kaleidoscope? That toy with the magical displays of different colours. You could spin it around and new patterns would emerge and it was just so mysteriously wonderful! You know, it’s just a cardboard tube that’s full of lots of shiny bits of plastic and little mirrors but its beautiful because of all the light bouncing off of it all. One can truly be so mesmerised by these magical moments of wonder. I feel like a child sometimes, in a world that’s full of big, mean people - with no control, over a lot of what’s going on around me and soon enough I can feel like things are looking, pretty dark - but then I remember that I can choose to look at the colourful things instead, all of the sweet patterns, the good things that other people are doing, creating or difference-making in the world, to make life, better. I can choose to look and see where or who the light is bouncing off of. Honestly, if you look... they’re everywhere.

    27 min

  8. 17/12/2024

    April May Gems - Dec 17 2024 ep39 - Top Ten Tips, Tricks & Traditions for a Meaningful Christmas

    Long-gone are the days when “Get your stocking out” meant to pull out the biggest sock you could find, from inside your undies drawer, ready to wake up on Christmas morning with an orange stuffed in the toe part, plus a red netted bag of nuts that you couldn’t really eat unless you had a nutcracker (or muscles that no six-year-old had), a few lollies and some coins and one special light up or moving toy of some description. Gone also, are the days when I was grinchy, grumpy, Mumma bear with Christmas tree OCD! Oh, how things have changed. Times have changed. But some things are timeless and worthy of staying around for Christmas. Today on this episode, I share my top ten tips, tricks and traditions for a meaningful Christmas, so grab a pencil and come count down with me from ten to One with a capital O. Speaking of capital letters, who decided to put that big ol’ X in Christmas?

    31 min
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    About

    April May, author and founder of April May Gems and mother of five, is passionate about sharing her stories to encourage and inspire others and to restore hearts that are in need of hope.

    Information

    • Creator
      Fresh FM
    • Years Active
      2023 - 2025
    • Episodes
      26
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © (C)Fresh FM
    • Show Website
      April May Gems

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