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.
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