The last couple of nights Josh has been really impressing me. First and foremost, he has been using the birthday gift I got him when we were engaged...his kayak. The fact that he has wanted to go kayaking "for the exercise" in the freezing cold New Zealand winter is insane to me, but it shows me how much he loves his present! Not only that, but it seems he has made kayaking into a profitable practice. His last paddle brought in two Kahawai, which is one of my favorite eating fish! What you catch you don't have to buy, so I say bring it on! And, yes it tasted great!
To continue in the bent of praising my husband, can I just tell everyone he is a great leader and teacher. A couple of nights ago we had a bunch of the THOP staff over for a partner raising class. Josh and Jordan (another staff member) did all the teaching and it was so good. All I had to do was offer the tea and coffee. I felt like I was back in the American 50's for a minute.
Onto other news: Anna, Nikka, Nathan and Ben (Josh's sister and her family) are coming to Tauranga for the weekend. I love hanging out with them, so that is really awesome. It will be a great weekend. I'm sure we will do alot of discussing my parent's in-law's new addition to their house, which brings me to my other news. I learned today that it is very common to paint over wallpaper in New Zealand. It creates textured look by a method that is alot shorter than, stripping the walls, plastering them, adding texture to them, and then painting them, which is what is generally done in America. So.....I guess that idea is back on the drawing board.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
I think we were supposed to go....
In my last blog, I told you guys that we had some adventures in Christchurch. Well, here is one of them.....
When we landed in Christchurch, we met up with some friends and they took us to pick up our friends car. Our friend, Rexy, is awesome, and let us drive his car around while he was in Western Australia. However there was a little catch. We had to take the car to get a Warrant of Fitness before we left the Christchurch, as it was going to expire during our week of driving around the South Island. Rexy's car is pretty nice, so we thought it would be as easy to get the warrant. We maid an appointment, dropped Steph and I at the grocery store to buy food for the week, and let Josh take the car in for the test.
We were isle 11 when Josh called. The car failed the test......meaning it would be banned from the road. Apparently the brake pads were completely worn down and it was not safe for a road trip. Especially not on the winding, hilly roads of the South Island. In that moment I found myself faced with a choice....keep shopping in faith that we would still go, or put everything back on the shelves and figure out how to kill a week in Christchurch as our tickets were nonrefundable and unchangeable. I chose to keep shopping.
Now it was 2:00 pm on a Saturday afternoon...and almost everything closes down at noon for the rest of the weekend. Josh said there was one place the guy at the Warrant of Fitness place told him about, and he was going to try to see if he could get an "emergency brake pad change". Ten minutes later, when we were in picking out our frozen veggies, Josh called again. The mechanic was going to squeeze it in right now....even though he had 4 other cars to work in line. Not only that, but he left his shop to go and purchase the brake pads for us, and only charged us 100 dollars. It was unbelievable! Now all we needed was the Warrant of Fitness.
Steph and I finished our shopping, headed to Subway to grab a late lunch for the drive to Aurthur's Pass, and then began walking with all our groceries toward the Warrant of Fitness place. As soon as we reached the parking lot, Josh called (because he did not see us 40 feet away from him)...the car has passed THE TEST and we were ready to roll!!!!
Crazy huh, I think God really wanted us to go to. It was amazing how it all worked out.
When we landed in Christchurch, we met up with some friends and they took us to pick up our friends car. Our friend, Rexy, is awesome, and let us drive his car around while he was in Western Australia. However there was a little catch. We had to take the car to get a Warrant of Fitness before we left the Christchurch, as it was going to expire during our week of driving around the South Island. Rexy's car is pretty nice, so we thought it would be as easy to get the warrant. We maid an appointment, dropped Steph and I at the grocery store to buy food for the week, and let Josh take the car in for the test.
We were isle 11 when Josh called. The car failed the test......meaning it would be banned from the road. Apparently the brake pads were completely worn down and it was not safe for a road trip. Especially not on the winding, hilly roads of the South Island. In that moment I found myself faced with a choice....keep shopping in faith that we would still go, or put everything back on the shelves and figure out how to kill a week in Christchurch as our tickets were nonrefundable and unchangeable. I chose to keep shopping.
Now it was 2:00 pm on a Saturday afternoon...and almost everything closes down at noon for the rest of the weekend. Josh said there was one place the guy at the Warrant of Fitness place told him about, and he was going to try to see if he could get an "emergency brake pad change". Ten minutes later, when we were in picking out our frozen veggies, Josh called again. The mechanic was going to squeeze it in right now....even though he had 4 other cars to work in line. Not only that, but he left his shop to go and purchase the brake pads for us, and only charged us 100 dollars. It was unbelievable! Now all we needed was the Warrant of Fitness.
Steph and I finished our shopping, headed to Subway to grab a late lunch for the drive to Aurthur's Pass, and then began walking with all our groceries toward the Warrant of Fitness place. As soon as we reached the parking lot, Josh called (because he did not see us 40 feet away from him)...the car has passed THE TEST and we were ready to roll!!!!
Crazy huh, I think God really wanted us to go to. It was amazing how it all worked out.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
An Awesome Time!
Josh and I just got home from putting my friend Stephanie on a plane. Normally, Josh driving to and from Auckland thing would be a semi normal thing....however tonight it was pouring with rain, and I actually drove the winding #2. It's the first time I have ever done it in rain and only my third time to ever drive it. Anywhooo....we had a great time with Steph and are so glad she came to visit us.
Our time in the South Island was so full of beauty, as you can see from the photo's. We started out flying to Christchurch and having some amazing experiences there. Then we went on to Aurthur's Pass, where we climbed Avalanche Peak. Then it was on to Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers, followed by a drive down the West coast with rain drenching walks to flowing waterfalls. The town of Wanaka (which is the city closest to Shania Twains vacation home) was our next stop. Everything we saw was just awe inspiring.
Queenstown and the Remarkable Mountains were our next stop. It was great to be able to see beauty and work at the same time. Starbucks served as the IWT office for a couple of days. Then onto our favorite place, Kinlock Lodge, where we met Samson and Delila, two golden retrievers. We also explored some Lord of the Rings Territory. We finished up our trip with an amazing day at Mt. Cook National Park, were we got to watch a real live Avalanche cascade down the rock face. Mount Cook is the highest point in New Zealand and an absolutely gorgeous site to behold. If you want to see more pics or know more about our trip please let us know, we have tons of videos and photos.
Our time in the South Island was so full of beauty, as you can see from the photo's. We started out flying to Christchurch and having some amazing experiences there. Then we went on to Aurthur's Pass, where we climbed Avalanche Peak. Then it was on to Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers, followed by a drive down the West coast with rain drenching walks to flowing waterfalls. The town of Wanaka (which is the city closest to Shania Twains vacation home) was our next stop. Everything we saw was just awe inspiring.
Queenstown and the Remarkable Mountains were our next stop. It was great to be able to see beauty and work at the same time. Starbucks served as the IWT office for a couple of days. Then onto our favorite place, Kinlock Lodge, where we met Samson and Delila, two golden retrievers. We also explored some Lord of the Rings Territory. We finished up our trip with an amazing day at Mt. Cook National Park, were we got to watch a real live Avalanche cascade down the rock face. Mount Cook is the highest point in New Zealand and an absolutely gorgeous site to behold. If you want to see more pics or know more about our trip please let us know, we have tons of videos and photos.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I think I made it and Oh Yeah....
Well, it is 10:20 pm and I have just finished packing for the South Island. I think managed to get almost everything done before my bed time in ten minutes. Phew! I'm exhausted.
I realized I forgot to update everyone on how Josh's public speaking engagement went in Fiji. Unfortunately, it never happened. In true island style, Josh showed up to speak and the church leaders told him they had mixed up the days of the speakers and that he couldn't speak that day. They wanted to come back and speak at the camp a few days later, but that didn't work with his IWT schedule, so it became a no go. Yeah...so there is the story. I guess the lesson is, when in Fiji just be flexible because things will always change.
I realized I forgot to update everyone on how Josh's public speaking engagement went in Fiji. Unfortunately, it never happened. In true island style, Josh showed up to speak and the church leaders told him they had mixed up the days of the speakers and that he couldn't speak that day. They wanted to come back and speak at the camp a few days later, but that didn't work with his IWT schedule, so it became a no go. Yeah...so there is the story. I guess the lesson is, when in Fiji just be flexible because things will always change.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Pictures at Last!
So after finally resizing these...here they are a few shots from Josh's time in Fiji. I love Fijians, they always looks so happy. It must be island way of life!
STAFF PICTURE
THE GIRLS and LUKE
THE BOYS
TRENA and NOAH
DAVID COLE
STAFF PICTURE
THE GIRLS and LUKE
THE BOYS
TRENA and NOAH
DAVID COLE
4 Days Until
In exactly four days, my best friend from college is coming to New Zealand for the second time. She was of course here for Josh and I's wedding the first time around. Anyway, so she is coming and Josh and I are going to be picking her up at 5:45 Saturday morning. Then we are all going to jump on a plane (thank you Air New Zealand Airpoints) and head to the South island for a quick jaunt around the West Coast (thank you Rexy for letting us use your car!). We don't have any set plans as yet, so if you have any suggestions of where to stay or what to see let us know! We welcome your comments! Presently, all we know is that it is cold down there and we need to take thermals and big coats. Oh, and that the first night we are there we are staying in Aurthur's Pass. Yippee!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Josh's Time in Fiji
Right now Josh is on a plane comming back from Fiji. Hopefully, the fog will lift from Auckland airport so they can land. If not, they will be detored to Wellington for the night and I won't see him for another day. From my breif conversation with him, things went really well in Fiji. The staff was hugly encouraged by the time together and the offering THOP took up for them. He said he took a few picttures so stay tuned to this spot and I will post them when he gets home.
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