An overdue post!

Sorry for the scrambled pictures but my computer is doing something weird. The ones on top are from Napier, then there's the family picture from the engagement party, then we have a Wellington picture and a picture from McCall's pumpkin patch.

It's been such a long time! I think once I got back from America, my brain went on hiatus and my fingers didn't want to do any blog writing. But I'm finally back and am working on keeping this blog since I know some of my family and friends like to read it every once in a while.

I think I can go over the highlights of these past few months that way this blog doesn't turn into a novel. I wish you could see me right now at the desk typing out this blog with the sound of fighter jets passing by. An Australian contingent is paying a visit, New Zealand only has the helicopters and a couple of Hercules. It was amazing, when I went to go hang-out the bedsheets, to see these jets whiz by the house and then hear sound barrier being broken! I think that I am a little bit of my father's daughter because I get so excited when I see things flying. It makes me wish that I could be up there too!

1) My trip to America was amazing! I had so much fun with my sister and family and then getting to see friends too was an extra bonus. We took a special trip out to OKC to see my besty Patty! A month came and went so quickly that I couldn't believe I was going back to New Zealand. However, I was more than ready to come back and be with my wonderful husband! We must be doing something right if we miss each other so much that I'm happy to be back with him. But I did come back with some great stuff from Williams and Sonoma!

2) Christmas was the same affair as it was last year except it was at Aunt Helen and Uncle Tony's place. Kylie wasn't present, spending her holidays at the farm seems to be the status quo now. Gordon and I had a brief stay with Roger and Christine and we also took time for ourselves in Bulls and the surrounding area. We had a beach day and a day out at Wellington.

3) I found out I was a victim of credit card fraud when I decided to check my accounts online! USAA was really helpful in clearing everything up and now I have my money back along with a new credit card that the fraudsters can't use!

4) My sewing skills have been growing thanks to one of my church friends, Lynn. I've made many different things including shirts for the girls(and dresses), placemats for Kylie's new home, a dress for me, bags and tartan skirts for the girls and a laundry bag is in the works right now. Gordon bought me a proper sewing machine and it is fantastic! Now I love to sew all the time and I think I just needed a little guidance to get me started because I seem to be doing fine now. Every now and then I go to Lynn's to get some help on a project. Now, all I need are some little ones in order to make clothes for them. I really, really, like sewing because it makes me feel useful at home.

5) Gordon and I went to Kylie's engagement party up on the farm, we have to go to another one in Tirau in June, for a very short weekend. Gordon and I have agreed that we will not go on the road to Wairoa again until the wedding. It was so windy and seemed to take forever just to get there. We arrived the day of the party and then left the next day, needless to say we felt exhausted at the end of it all. Kylie asked me to be in the wedding which was really nice of her. It looks like Gordon will be able to get lucky with a bridesmaid, hehe!

6) Gordon and I decided to get serious about finding a home to purchase since we had some money ready. I guess it wasn't meant to be, although the house that we found was perfect for us and at a great price, because the deal fell through. Needless to say, we were crushed and it left me feeling like a burden to my husband. What happened was that we were looking at the Welcome Home Loan which helps people get into a home without a substantial deposit. One of their obscure stipulations was that since Gordon and I were married we had to apply together and due to the fact that I still do not have residency status he was denied. So we hung in there for a couple more weeks hoping that we could find someone to give us a loan on the deposit but due to the house being in Marton no one wanted to loan us the money. Gordon and I were pretty upset by the end of this due to all the hope we had in getting this home. Maybe we'll find a house here in Bulls when I do get residency because the Air Force is beginning to sell off a huge chunk of their married quarters properties. Luckily, our married quarter is one of the few that won't be sold off.

7) After the whole housing debacle, Gordon and I decided that we needed a mini-vacation. So we decided to take a little trip to Napier. It was exactly what we needed and we had so much fun! The first night we had dinner at a family winery and then on the second we made our own dinner with the help of a microwave and the local 4 Square. We went to the Aquarium, the train museum, putt-putt golf, a chocolate shop, the Arataki honey center and all sorts of other things. It was just nice to get away because it had been such a long time since we had, due to our limited finances. I never wanted to leave the place because it was full of sunshine, something missing when we got back to the gray clouds of the Manawatu and Rangitikei. It's time to get myself prepared for the coming New Zealand winter, cloudy, cold and rainy. Fall has made itself known over here.

8) I was finally assigned a case worker last week for my residency. Now Gordon and I are scrambling around to get another round of evidence together. Further evidence that Gordon and I have been living as a legitimate and true couple since we made the application. I've written out a three page chronology of our relationship and there's more documents that have to prove we get mail at the same address, we have joint liability and we are recognized as a couple. We've asked some people to write letters with their observations of Gordon and I as a couple. All I know is that I'm starting to get annoyed that I have to justify my relationship to Immigration but I do understand the fact that they have to be cautious with the family category due to people taking advantage of the system.

9) I got a non-paid job! I went in for an interview with SuperGrans Manawatu Charitable Trust and came out with an internship. I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to actually be contributing to something. The fact that it is a social service trust is even better because I know that what I'm doing is good. They seem very pleased with my work so far. Debs, my co-boss, wants to keep me forever. I do understand that its all a matter of funding so I just hope that they are able to find some type of funding to hire me when my non-paid experience ends. I don't even mind if its only for 15 hours a week, at least it will be something to help out Gordon and me!

I guess that will about catch everyone up on the things we've done since I got back from the states, the major things anyways. Next month may be a bit difficult to get through because its time for fertility testing. Gordon and I still haven't been successful in bringing a little Schofield into the world. I'm staying optimistic, at times, that its something that can be easily fixed. I'm scared that that's not the case. If not, then I guess there is always my nephews and nieces that I can dote on. I know it sounds archaic but I really want to be able to have children, to give Gordon children. I almost see it as my intrinsic right to bear kids but I know that some people don't get that right. If it is a case of me not being able to have a child then we may have to look into surrogacy or moving back to the States. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it but it looks like we have to cross the fertility bridge now. At least I have Gordon to be with me every step of the way.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a good month and is enjoying the warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere. I'll be here in little 'ol New Zealand celebrating Easter with my husband. I'm going to try and make hot cross buns for him since we can't go to Tirau for Easter. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Road of Faith

I've been going to a study group on Thursdays and we are in charge of a service because the minister is taking 6 weeks off to build or finish is house. Our section is about turning points, mainly what made us turn to Christianity. Laura and I will be doing the speaking part, Judith has been helping with music, Joy is doing the children's talk and Kay is holding communion. I'm really excited to give my story. Hear is what I'll be talking about in front of the congregation. I like giving little view point speeches because it gives me a goal that I need to reach during the week. Anyways, here it goes:

How did you become a Christian? Was it brought on by some life-altering event? Did it happen in a dream or a vision with blinding light and a deep, booming voice? Or maybe it just happened instantly, one day, out of the blue when you went to a service? For most, like me, it is a long, winding road that can take years to travel. In all of these circumstances though there is one constant, the people are changed and their way of thinking is somehow altered. My road to being a Christian was full of twists, turns, potholes and speedbumps. I thought that I would never get to where I was going. My biggest challenge was that I had to realize that the perception of myself had to change in order to get where I was hoping to go. That who I was, what I was, where I was from never diminishes God’s love for me. I had to learn to fit into my own skin and gradually love myself in order for God to fit into my life. In turn, my faith bloomed.

I remember that every year in primary school we would do a collage that was full of magazine clippings using words and images to describe ourselves. You never put the bad stuff just the good things but inside I was full of bad, negative words that I had heard of myself growing up. Things like fat, ugly, hairy, hot-tempered, lazy swirled in my head constantly and ran to the forefront in my mind. I heard kind words from friends and family as well, pretty, kind, quiet, nice, funny, happy but the negative seemed to drown them out. Becoming a teenager and an adult is enough of a struggle already but the negative became so magnified that most days I would look in the mirror and see no one of value just another person taking up space. There were good days as well when the person looking back at me was who I truly wanted to be. Pretty soon all that was left was a scared, frightened, insecure, unhappy teenager who became a woman that saw mostly her faults and hardly any of her strengths. I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin which led to my second obstacle. How God must have wept for me being so foolish.

When I graduated from high school, I had gained some of my confidence back. My dream at the time was to become a pharmacist. How quickly things change when you go to university. Suddenly I was faced with new choices and new decisions to make and pharmacy fell by the wayside while I endeavoured to figure out what I wanted to be. I always seemed to take a longer time than most people around me to get where I was going. My sister had taken just five years at Stanford University to get her bachelor’s and master’s in Earth Systems. It took me seven years, and constant teasing by family, to finally end up with a bachelor’s degree in biology. I was proud of myself for finishing what I had started but I was ashamed that I had taken so long. I felt like I was a drain on my parents. I always felt like the black sheep of the family because it took me longer to get it right. When Gordon proposed and we decided to get married, my fear of not fitting in came back in my mind. I was going to move to a new country where there were different customs, different sayings and things were just done differently. I felt that I had to assimilate into Kiwi culture and I had none of the skills to do it. I didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. God worked to change my thinking through two people, my sister and my husband.

I remember going to church as a small child but for some reason, we stopped going. The base of my faith had been layed down but it was abandoned to the elements of life. My sister is the one who started working on my foundations again. She had gotten married to a nice man, they had children and they decided to move back to New Mexico. She encouraged me to come with them to church services. Often times I would start going to churches but I never felt connected enough to keep it up. I became a fair-weather Christian, only going when life was good and never going when times were tough. My sister provided that connection for me to start going to church regularly. I had someone to discuss my opinions with, someone to feel connected to when I went to church. It was like I was learning to ride a bike and my sister was there to help me if I fell. Pretty soon I was able to “ride” on my own and Ali was just walking beside me. Finally, my sister encouraged me to sign-up for study groups that the church was hosting. These groups helped me to build on my foundation, to get the frame up if you will. I changed, I started to feel better about myself and I learned that when I include God in my everyday life it makes it so much better.

Marriage is such a huge step; it becomes even more complicated when the guy you want to spend the rest of your life with lives in a different country away from all that you know. However, through Gordon I found my true faith, I became a true follower. The foundation and the frame were already there and Gordon strengthened my faith. When Gordon looked at me he didn’t see what I felt, he saw me. I often tell friends that Gordon is my example of God’s love for me because he gives his love freely and without conditions. Gordon sees someone of value not a insecure woman who feels like she can’t get it right which is the way we like to think God sees us isn’t it? I’m not saying that my husband is a saint but he is perfect for me. My heart was complete when Gordon decided that he wanted to spend his life with me. Gordon loves me just the way I am and I know that God loves me just the way I am too as proof in Isaiah 43:1,4,” I have called you by name; you are Mine! Since you are precious in my sight.” I can’t tell you how uplifting that makes me feel, how it makes me feel comfortable about who I am. I am precious in His sight!

I found that I wanted to have not only a strong marriage but a marriage that included God. I had seen what a faithless marriage can do to couples and I wanted to start mine on a good foundation. Gordon choosing to love me and make me his wife brought me to where I am today but he also brought me closer to God than I have ever been. It was hard to say goodbye to family and friends that I had all my life but God had a different plan for me. I believe that he took me away from my old life to start my new life with Him and my husband. I remember something from my moving study group, it was that the first thing you should do when moving somewhere is to find a new church to go to services to. It’s hard to explain but when I went looking for God I found comfort from the pain and loneliness of being in a strange place with no friends and nothing to do but sit at home. I believe it was because my heart was complete now, Gordon had made it that way and I look at Jeremiah 29:11-12 to explain it. There are tough days when I wish that my mother and sister were just a car ride or phone call away but I’m also stronger in my faith foundation. Through marriage and moving I’ve learned to fit into myself and in the process found what I was looking for all along to be loved and accepted.

I don’t want you to think that my life is perfect because it’s not. I have daily, weekly, and monthly struggles with the perception of myself still at times and there are times when feeling like not fitting in is at the forefront of my mind. However with Gordon and God’s help I’m learning to value myself. That I can take as much time as I need to get it right, that it doesn’t matter that I take a little longer than most people. I am enough for my husband and I am enough for God and that is all I need to know. It would be nice to have a job, a family, a comfortable cushion of money but I think that I have all I need because “I am precious in His sight.”

Husband back home and sunshine days are here!

Well, I received a pleasant surprise last Monday night. My husband came home a day early! Turns out that a tanker had stranded itself on the reef in Samoa and they told the Navy boat and the RNZAF that they had to leave right away from the dock, that's the short story of it. So they called the plane got it there and everyone boarded and came home. Unfortunately, I was at a church concert so I wasn't at home when Gordon called. He found a ride home so that was nice when I drove up and saw him standing at the gate. We were able to spend the rest of the week together having fun and just enjoying being together again.

Gordon had to leave again on Friday to go and get the helicopters assembled from the navy boat when it docked. He didn't get back home until Monday. I had to keep telling everyone at church that he did come home but he had to leave again to reassemble the helicopters since he was on the last rotation. I didn't mind it at all because I got to spend four days with him until he had to go away again. We did some laundry and cleaning up and also went to go check out the new section of the plaza that opened last Thursday. It was a nice day out.

The weather has been cooperating really well. We're expecting a front to come in on Friday with rain and crap but these last two weeks have been heaven with the sun shining and the temperatures comfortable. We've had some great days with no cloud at all, just beautiful blue sky. Due to the good weather I've been able to get out into side garden and free my poppies and gladiolas from weeds. Now its Gordon's turn to do the other section of the side garden. It is apparent that we are definitely going to need to get more soil to replenish the levels they used to be for the side garden and definitely our veggie garden. Looks like the compost and grass we put in have started to decompose and lower the soil level. We may be able to do that in November or December. It just means that our soil is becoming rich with nutrients so that makes me happy.

The big thing happening this Monday is Gordon's birthday. Mr. Schofield will be turning 29 this year. Oh my gosh, that means I'm going to be 28! It was also Father's day last Sunday and I sent a card to Gordon's dad from the both of us. Our gift is our trip to Tirau next weekend to spend some time with them. For Gordon's birthday we are going to have curry. We were going to have pizza but then I told him I was surprised he didn't want curry for his birthday, silly me. We may go and see a movie as well or we could just go and have some gelato for his birthday instead. Gordon isn't too concerned about gifts.

Speaking of gifts, I've been working on figuring out what to do for gifts for the Schofield family at Christmas. I know it may seem early but its better to get it out of the way right now then wait until the prices go up during the Christmas season. I was thinking board games for each couple, that would only mean buying two board games! The rest of the family is going to receive either a family tree bag or a potted flower can that we'll make ourselves. Any suggestions? Mom already has Gordon's presents figured out but I'm still at a loss of what to get for me. Honestly, I'm just happy with some nice jeans or something for the house. I've started to think about what the house needs rather than what I want. I don't think there is much I want anymore, besides maybe an ipod and a food processor, because I've learned to deal with what I have on such a small budget. The days of frivolous spending are over for me, I have to think of the future now. I must admit that it is hard to do at times though. I wish that we could get nice stuff for our house and not worry about the cost but I think I'm learning to appreciate what I do have for our house. I've also learned that DIY is the way to go when wanting to save on money as well. Besides, in a years time we'll have an extra 144 dollars a month when our GE bill is all paid off so that's something to look forward to. It seems so faraway at times though.

What's not faraway is my trip home! I'm so happy that I'm allowed back into the country with my work visa. I'm not sure if I need to apply for another work permit or not but we'll see when I get back. It can be so confusing on whether you need a visa and/or permit. A permit is for if you live in New Zealand and a visa is if you are out of the country and applying. Still very confusing, I'll just be happy when I get my residency permit. The twins are excited to have their Aunt Nene come and visit them and I can't wait to meet little Ewan for the first time! I'm also going to help Ali make a Halloween costume for Dax. The balloon fiesta will be going and I can go and see that and enjoy it. Its only about three weeks away now. The time will come faster than I realize and then I will be back in NM and enjoying everything that I've missed for a whole year like Anthropolgie, Williams and Sonoma, Lane Bryant, Cracker Barrel, Pei Wei, Red Robin and New Mexican food! I'll also be able to share with my family some of the stuff we eat here in little ol' NZ. I should take them a little thing of Nutella or something. The girls loved the chocolate biscuits that I sent them for their birthday. I should get the rest of my cookbook written and put onto my drive stick so I can assemble that when I get home and leave as Christmas presents.

I'm only bringing one suitcase because Mom wants to get Gordon a new suitcase. I just need to make sure that when I come back my suitcases meet the weight limits. It shouldn't be a problem because I'll try to pack light, yeah right. We'll see how it works out. Gordon was telling me that I may be able to check my baggage all the way to LAX which will take the hassle out of the int'l terminal in Auckland because it gets so busy and I only have an hour and a half layover there. We'll see how it works out. I'll have to pack some new and old books to read for my delays at the airports. It will be hard without Gordon there to experience everything that I'm doing but we'll survive somehow. Next trip we are definitely going together, so we'll be together at my best friend's wedding and hopefully we'll have a little one with us as well.

I've started knitting a new baby blanket. Its a sea green color and I'm coming along very well with it. I think I may be ready to start on a bigger baby blanket project. It may take me longer but we'll see how it goes. I know Ali likes the blue blanket that I gave to her. I'm hoping that knitting the blanket brings me luck in Gordon and me getting pregnant. I find myself wondering at times if I will every get pregnant but we still have five more months to keep trying until we have to go for testing to see if there is anything wrong with us. I've adopted a positive attitude lately that it will happen, I just have to be patient. Still, you find yourself going to a dark place every now and again. I was telling my sister the other day that they make it seem if you don't follow stringent guidelines when trying to conceive that your baby will come out deformed or something. No wonder I worry about healthy babies so much because they can make the issue of conception and having healthy babies so scary at times! I'm still working on my weight issue and eating healthy. I saw a show last night that said to get natural folic acid to try and eat citrus fruits and leafy greens, I can't eat fish because it makes me gag. But I've been eating lots of oranges lately so that has to be good for me as well as broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Gordon and I had a great day on his leave day Tuesday, due to him being in Auckland for the weekend, by spending time outside. We had a great time weeding, planting and composting. I found that the Christmas lily bulb I bought was sprouting in its package! So I promptly had to plant it into a tub that was devoid of flowers. I also planted a dahlia tuber as well so we'll see how it goes. If the weather is nice on Sunday I anticipate doing some more planting with the help of Gordon. Also I had bought some freesias and ranunculus, do any gardeners have any handy tips on tricking them into sprouting for me even though its not fall? The start of spring is definitely here because there are tons of daffodils blooming. Its amazing to drive on the road and see on the side of the road a whole bunch of daffodils just sprouting out from the garden. Gordon and I also made a picnic and took it to the Mt. Lees reserve which is near Bulls and Sanson. It had a nice bushwalk to take and it said in the paper that now was the perfect time to go and see the daffodils in bloom. The daffodils definitely did not let us down! As you can see from these pictures we had a good time. I wasn't very happy about how I looked but true to form Gordon said he thinks I'm beautiful. Its nice to have a husband who thinks you're pretty even when you feel like you aren't at times. I think we may go back to the gardens we went to for my birthday soon if the weather is still good one of these weekends. I like when it gets warm because it means Gordon and I get to go places and parks.

Oh my, what a lengthy blog. I hope you enjoyed reading. I'm not sure if I'll update my blog while back in NM but it is definitely a possibility. Oh congratulations to my cousin Candice and her husband Nick on the birth of their son, Blake!

One week, two week, three week, home

I have survived Gordon's absence with flying colors. The first week was easy to get through, it looks like the second one might be a bit tougher but its already Wednesday here so that's half of the week gone already. The weather has taken a windy turn for the worse so it looks like I may have to wait for any excursions next week. It looks like we may have a surplus of money as well so I won't feel so bad about traveling someplace new. Things are starting to look up financially. The absence hasn't been so bad either because Gordon has been able to call me practically everyday so I know what he's up to and he knows what I've done for the day. The nights can be the roughest which is evident because I got a spook this morning and have been awake ever since. Hopefully writing this blog will make me sleepy.

I've had just enough to do each day to take my mind off of Gordon. Its remarkable how clean your house can get when your husband is away! I've been trying to organize and get together and put away so many things. I've organized my sheets into pairs tied with yarn so they don't get separated, I don't have any long ribbon. I've volunteered at the Edale Rest Home, playing dominoes with the ladies. Catching up on programs that need to be deleted from the recorder. I also helped Edale again on Tuesday with their quilting project. I outlined designs on the paper and then it was ironed on the fabric, cut, peeled and placed on the quilt board. Apparently it really helped to have an extra set of hands doing the tracing. I told them that I didn't mind that I like doing the outlines for the flowers and what not. It makes me wish that I could make a pretty quilt. I may try a small baby one someday because I have tons of material to work with. Oh, a pretty little quilt piece with beautiful flowers, my imagination does run away with me.

Women's fellowship was last Thursday and I took notes because the lady who is usually in charge of it was absent. I think I wrote an informative essay on the subject but there was just so much good information. Its been awhile since I wrote any kind of report so it was good practice for me. The organization that spoke was called Loved 4Life. Its aim is to reach out to new or families that have just had a baby to show that they are not alone in the parenting game. The baby gets a "Loved" quilt, the family gets a meal and their are workshops to help develop their parenting skills. It really looks like an awesome organization and I'm tempted to see if we can set-up a chapter in Marton. I'm not a parent yet though so I don't know how well that would go down. I'm mostly a behind the scenes gal but I can be coaxed out of my shell. One of the other ladies was very interested because she's in a knitting group that knits baby clothes and they are handed out to families with babies that want the gift.

The weather has been so nice these past couple of days that I was able to stacks of laundry without the use of the dryer too much. It looks like Spring has come a bit early to this area. I'm not complaining though if it means I don't have huddle under the covers during the night. Still a bit nippy so I'm using my heat pump since Gordon is away. I've pruned my alstromeria bush and am looking forward to the coming spring. It would be great if I could have more flowers this year. My carnations seem to be alive still as do my poppies. The side bed needs a good weeding so I think that I'll leave that for Gordon, hehe. I'm almost tempted to go and throw herbicide on that side garden and start all over again with fresh soil. It may just pay to weed, lay newspaper and a new layers of soil or bark along the side garden to get the weeds under control. That's what happens when you reuse the soil that you dug-up originally. I'm being optimistic though and on a good day Gordon will have to give the yard a good cut. I think that I'm going to stick to potted plants this year. I'll make a little potted oasis. I just have to have Gordon get me a palette so I can put them on there to water and not worry about drainage. I could always break down and just buy some more saucers too. I would still need the palette to put all the pots on though. Being in the middle of the walkway to the laundry line just isn't cutting it. I would love to have a sea of cosmos or something in the side garden, wouldn't that be lovely? There are little daffodils every poking their heads out and blooming in gardens all around town. Even the cherry blossom trees have bloomed! I love cherry blossom trees, I want one in my backyard of my first home.

The house search is still ongoing. All we can really do right now is look at the houses because we aren't going to start making any concrete decisions until after I return. We've been constantly weighing the benefits and cons of Marton and Bulls. It looks like Bulls is winning right now but the battle isn't over. We found a cute, character home that is located right along the main road. You wouldn't know it was on the main road when you close the door of the house because you can't hear anything from outside. It must have really good insulation. There are some that we really like but we are going to keep saving until we can afford the one-time costs. That or until a baby comes along. Sometimes it feels like we can either have one or the other. Maybe if I get a job then it won't feel that way so much anymore.

I've just learned that my 2-year work permit and multiple entry visa has been approved. I am so happy and ecstatic that everything went so well! Now, Gordon and I don't have to shell out extra cash in order to get me back into the country and I can visit home without any worries. Its so strange all the hoops that you have to jump through in order to be with the person you love. I keep joking that once I got my work permits I had no choice but to stay with Gordon and live in New Zealand since we used all that money for my paperwork. Its just a joke though because I would follow Gordon to the ends of the Earth if I had to. At least one part of my paperwork is over and done with. I'm not going to worry about residency because they've told me it can take up to a year to grant and I've got a 2-year work permit.

It looks like Roger and Christine will have a new son-in-law. Glen proposed to Kylie this weekend so it looks like wedding plans will start to be made. I'm very happy for them and so glad that Kylie has found someone to spend her life with. I was worried about her for awhile but it looks like she's gotten exactly what she wanted. Hmm...I wonder if I got exactly what I wanted? Well Gordon is a nice guy and cares about me very much so I guess I did! Glen and Kylie should be very happy together and I can't wait to see what the future holds in store for them. Now all I have to do is get pregnant! No luck on that front yet but we're still working on it. When a year comes and we haven't conceived, then I'll start to get worried.

Speaking of babies, my cousin Michele had hers on Thursday. Most of you already know this since mostly my family reads this blog. Anyways, congratulations on being inducted into motherhood and fatherhood Michele and Nate. Baby Erik looks cute and sweet. I wish I could come and see you and the baby.

I've gotten some exercise DVDs so I can work in the comfort of my home. I just tried one yesterday. I was a jumble of arms when it came to some of the dance moves. I was great at the plies though thanks to my college ballet class. This one was a type of pilates workout so I feel a bit sore but its a good sore. I'm going to start slow, about every 2 or every other day. It really depends on time constraints. I've also noticed that when Gordon is gone I don't as eat much. I have to teach myself that just because he eats a lot doesn't mean that I have to as well. It also helps that I've been eating panini sandwiches while really feel me up during lunch. When I cook I portion the meals into containers for later servings. It looks like I have a full menu this week and next week I start my subway portion of meals. I figured that going to Subway each day for evening meals would only cost me $28 and then I usually only spend about $30 on vegetables, due to high prices, which means the only things that I would have to get at the supermarket were lunch items which should only total about $45 hopefully. I've been eating lots of fruits and veggies too so that leaves me feeling happy and full. I've also gotten cheeses that are lower in fat content then cheddar. I'm working on cutting the dairy and have started buying skim milk so it looks like I'm on the right track. Still its important for me to have my calcium and the only way I get it is through milk and yogurt.

Okay, well it looks like that will do it for this week. See having a husband gone is beneficial to me because I'm able to update the blog sooner than expected! Insomnia definitely can have its advantages when updating my blog as well. I'm still counting down the days, his return date isn't very definite, until he comes home. Next week he'll be on a boat so communication will be non-existent for a couple of days. Depends on how fast they get from the island to New Zealand, I hope its fast! I also hope that they push back his exercise so he can take me to the airport when I leave in October. Everyone have a great week and enjoy that summer heat while you can for those Northern hemisphere dwellers. I'll be here rearranging the house, making cards and whatever else I can do to occupy the time.

Gilmore Girls

One of the great things about some NZ channels is that I can watch re-runs of shows that I used to watch in America. Lately, one of the stations has been showing "Gilmore Girls" in the evenings on the weekdays. I usually substitute it for the news because lets face it the world can be a bit depressing. I never was a religious watcher of the show but it is fun to see all the episodes that I've missed right up until the end. This show was approved by Focus on Families which at the end of the series seems kind of odd. As the series has progressed I find that it follows the formula that all great shows follow nearing the end of its run, its gets tedious, predictable and down-right frustrating to watch. Still I have had some good and bad things that I've learned from Loralie and Rory and the rest of the characters.

1) Even if you have parents that don't understand you, you should always have them involved in their grandchildren's lives.
2) If you treat your parents with respect then your children will treat you and them with respect.
3) Even if we don't agree, I still love you.
4) Never, ever, ever keep secrets from your significant other because it always comes out
5) Always communicate, don't sit there and brood and suddenly explode like a volcano while the other person doesn't have a clue what brought this on.
6) We all make mistakes and should be forgiven.
7) Enjoy life!
8) You shouldn't flirt with ex-boyfriends/ex-girlfriends because its just bad.
9) Living in a small town can be fun.
10) Marriage takes effort but loving them is easy.
11) Don't look down on people, just because they don't do it your way doesn't mean they're stupid.
12) Don't be impulsive when it comes to big decisions, like marriage and children.
13) When you over-analyze, you just make a mess of things.
14) Always listen to good music.
15) Make sure you have a good outfit on.

I hope you enjoyed my light-hearted post!

Gone away from me

The paperwork is in, immigration is processing my applications as I write this blog. I have to admit that I was really nervous that I may have left something out. Turns out that something was missing but it wasn't due to me, I had to have a print-out of all my lab tests for my medical exam and it wasn't included. I just have to mail that out today and I could be getting my passport back in a weeks time. All my documentation for our validity as a couple was about a 1/2 inch thick. I wanted to be thorough so there was no doubt in their minds about our genuine relationship. The man that we dealt with at immigration was easy to talk with, concise and to-the-point. I didn't get any run-around or surprise charges. It does feel good to have all the paperwork in now but I think I may still worry a little until I am granted a residence permit. The good news is that when I get my partner-sponsored work permit I will be allowed to live in New Zealand for another two years as well as go back and forth to America.

I have a friend in Bulls now. One of the book club girls has moved to house in Bulls and I'm having coffee with her today. She's a very active girl and the house that she has moved into is just spectacular. She definitely got a great house and she told me that Gordon and I have to come over for dinner one of these times. I never feel at ease inviting people into my home because it is so small and cramped but I'm working on getting better at it. I just need to devise cheap storage solutions. Invest in some clear boxes that I can sneak under the bed, ooh that would be great for storing our sheet sets and clearing space in the cupboard in the spare bedroom. That or some kind of cheap, wooden chest that I can construct with a lid so nasty little insects can't get into it.

I do have a bit of bad news, Gordon is leaving me for three weeks to go on exercise. Its part of the job, I get it, and I'm lucky than most girls to have a husband who is in the RNZAF rather than the USAF. Still, when you're at home all day you look forward to that bit of human contact at the end of the day. I have some activities planned for the weeks while he is gone but nothing jam-packed. For some reason, its a bit tough this time around, maybe because of how long he will be away. Its practically a whole month! It also looks like I may have to find a ride to the airport for my trip back home because he may have to be away on exercise during that time as well. For some reason it peeves me off that he always gets to leave me and I was looking forward to me leaving him for once. Maybe so he would understand what its like to come home to a house that only has a cat to keep him company or sleep in a bed that is big and empty.

I am looking forward to America every week now. I should start booking appointments so that I can see everyone, hehe. It will be good to spend time with my mother and sister and nieces and nephews and friends and other family. I'm extra-excited that my mom is taking off two whole weeks to spend with me! I'm sure by the end of it though, I will be aching to be back with Gordon. I've lived without him for so long and now I can't bear to be apart from him. I guess I should look at his being away right now as an exercise in patience and fortitude for my upcoming trip. Although I have to be honest, I'll be enjoying myself a lot more in New Mexico compared to right now.

Well that seems to be about it. I know its a short blog for such a long absence away but hopefully I'll have lots of things to talk about later. Maybe it won't be so difficult to be away from Gordon, yeah right. Maybe I'll go on an adventure to Wellington, if the weather clears up a little bit more during the week. When Gordon is away, I have to find some kind of adventure to take and expose myself to something new. I may take the cable car in Wellington to the gardens and look at all the beautiful spring flowers. The trees are blooming here so Spring is on its way which means that I have to get out to my potted plants and work on weeding and pruning. I have to find a way to get rid of moss, I think some mulch may take care of that. Maybe I'll go to the beach for a day of relaxation, reading and waves, no swimming, its too cold! I hope everyone has a great week!

It all started with a postcard

The biggest news this week happens at the end of it. My first anniversary, the first of many to come, is on Sunday. It reminds me of something that Gordon's Dad told him about marriage before we got married. "The first 6 months of marriage you exist on pure love," or something along those lines. It's been a year and marriage is still a breeze when it comes to loving and living with each other. I guess that just means that Gordon and I were supposed to be together all along. We've had our own worries that dealt with bills and money but after a year we are starting to save, trying for a family and looking for a place to call our own. The only debt we have is due to my airplane ticket to Albuquerque which will be paid off in 3 months and we are still saving in the meantime. We've decided to wait until the end of the year to look at our financial situation and then re-examine our housing. We may just switch to a different Air Force house for more space and keep saving.

The fact of the matter of is that I would have to really and truly be in love with Gordon to transfer myself from New Mexico to New Zealand, away from family and friends that I've grown up with all my life. Trying to strike out and make a new life and new friends is not easy when you don't have the means to go out and socialize, when you have to watch your finances. Not having or getting a job has taken a toll on my psyche but Gordon has been supportive and compassionate when I feel blue about it. He supports me in all my endeavors and tries to make my dreams come true. My best friend has become my husband, Patty you're still my bestest friend too! I've done without Starbucks and eating out as much as I used to. In fact, I don't even have a cell phone and I used to use it all the time in NM. There have been lots of changes on my end but Gordon has had to make sacrifices as well, no impulse buying! Marriage has made me a better person, a more responsible person than I used to be.

It will be interesting to look back after ten years and see where we started off and how we changed. I can only hope that we don't change for the worse but for the better. We don't have big plans for the day of our anniversary because we have to go to church. We will be celebrating on Saturday, the 1st, though. We plan to go to Burger Fuel and then to a movie, a real American date night! I don't know if we'll see "Harry Potter", "Transformers", or "The Hangover" those are the movies that look of interest to me that are at the Palmy cinema. Gordon may get me some flowers and I already have his present. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it. We'll probably watch our wedding ceremony on the DVD we have as well.

Kylie and Glen have recently been sick with a bout of...swine flu! Now I know someone who has had it. Gordon and I have been lucky enough not to contract it. They seem to be doing a lot better but for awhile there Glen was pretty sick. I also met up with my mother-in-law to chat with her since she was coming through Palmerston North on her way back from a conference. She seems to really enjoy her trips when she only has to worry about going somewhere and not having to cook dinner or anything.

I've started going to a weekly bible study class on Thursday nights. Gordon gets to watch all the sports he wants while I'm gone studying the Word. It has been very insightful. For the moment, we're focusing on praise by looking at passages throughout the Bible on how praise is used and phrased, etc. Book club is also going along as well. We've had a couple of hiccups in getting meeting dates and times down but I think we've settled on something. It was just me and Lindsay this time because Morgan was helping a neighbor, Jo had to stay home because her husband was working and Emma is in England. The book that we read was "A Thousand Splendid Suns", a very sad but beautiful in its own way book. There seemed to be a theme of oppression throughout the book. Lindsay and I had a good talk about it. I also found out that she's becoming an avid fan of "The West Wing". I guess she watches episodes on the net. We also talked about Mexican food in America and how I was going home in October.

It seems the time has come. The dreaded immigration paperwork has crept up on me. I've started my immigration medical, which ended-up costing me 391 dollars! At least its done and taken care of. We are having our pastor write a letter of reference for our relationship. I'm also gathering all the documentation that shows Gordon and I have been together for a whole year. I may use blog entries to show that I talk about him constantly, maybe not. I just have to print out the photos because I have our papers for the car and credit cards that show we have things in both our names. Gordon went and got his sponsorship papers notarized by the Bulls constable so everything should be squared away for that. It just feels like a pain sometimes to be jumping through all these hoops but what can I say, I love my husband and want to be with him.

Ending on a light note, just like how "light" this blog is. I've been making great progress on my cookbook of New Merican for Christmas presents. I only have to get about 10-20 more recipes down and the thing will be ready to be edited. I've just been writing it in sections. There's the Kraft and Campbells section as well as my miscellaneous recipes. I wanted to put cute little pictures on the sides but we'll see when we have a more finished product. I have to go off and make some banana cupcakes now for our anniversary. I'm getting more motivated by the day so I'll keep up the blog and try to get it updated every two weeks or so. Everyone have a good week, I know that I'm going to have a great weekend!