Tuesday 29 April 2008

Photos please!

I've been asked by a few people now to update our blog, but the truth is we've been so busy, working by day, seeing friends by night, that there isn't that much of interest to blog about! We did however have a great morning with our friend Jeff the other week who took us out to visit one of the national parks in east Auckland (photo below)-thanks Jeff!.
The weather is still amazing and although we have rain showers most days, it's still around 20 degrees most days-not bad for the start of winter!
Paul has his last day in the church office today and leads worship for the last time on Sunday. We then have a week left to get packed up before we say goodbye to the country we know as home. 
Gracie is doing well, she has now fully recovered from 'hand, foot and mouth' which was pretty awful and is just making us laugh we the things she does and finds funny. She has taken to kissing things that she likes, such as most pages in her books and the 'baby' on the empty bubble bath bottle! 

Jeff, Gracie and Paul on our mini hike!


Gracie having a bath with 'baby'!!!

Thursday 10 April 2008

Our little girl.

Since our return from the States, Gracie has all of a sudden changed more into a little girl! I think it's because I've started to put her hair up in bunches. It's a learning process for both of us-for Gracie to sit still, and for me not to hurt her when I pull her hair,  and to give up on the third attempt even when it's all wonky! 

While in the US, we were blessed by a family we didn't even meet, who donated bags full of second hand clothes for Gracie. We had to borrow an extra bag to fly home because of all the extra stuff! I think she looks so grown up in her new clothes.

We're back!

After a whistle stop visit to Oklahoma, we made it back to NZ yesterday morning. We had the most amazing time and met some gorgeous people there who blessed, inspired and challenged us in every way. Our week was jam-packed with meeting different people in the church, going out for meals and experiencing Oklahoma.

Our first impressions of the community at Bridgway church blew us away and it only got better as the week went on. I was somewhat disappointed though to find out that the average person doesn't wear a cowboy hat and boots on a daily basis, although we were taken to cow town so that I could see a real-life cowboy!!!

There are so any highlights that I couldn't begin to write them all, however, the one I'll mention as we have a photo, is meeting one of the contestants from American Idol who we loved when we watched it a few moths ago! He sang the national anthem at the baseball match we watched-how hysterical!!! 

We were hosted by Zak and Jessica with their gorgeous 8 week old baby, Adley, for most of the week and for our last two nights, with Lance and Stacey, with their two amazing kids, Jake and Emily. It is true what they say about Oklahomans knowing how to host! We loved our stay so much and felt so blessed to be looked after and cared for by these guys. 

Zak, Jessica and Adley.

Stacey and Lance outside church.


At the baseball game with Kyle from American Idol!

Tuesday 1 April 2008

Beautiful Sunset

Last night the sunset was stunning - I got a great photo from our front porch.